11/30/2009. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The A 106 light turbine- powered helicopter was a high-performance single-seat aircraft, particularly designed for ASW attack duties from frigate decks, carrying two Mk 44 torpedoes and equipment for contact identification. Alternative armament installations included machine guns, rockets and a bomb dispenser.

Power plant of the A 106 was a 320 shp Turboméca-Agusta TAA 230 shaft-turbine engine. The main rotor was two-bladed, with a stabilizer bar, and the tail rotor also had two blades. The main rotor blades and tail boom folded for stowage.

Comprehensive instrumentation and electronic equipment made possible operation of the A 106 in reduced visibility conditions. Provision was made for the installation of an auxiliary fuel tank and inflatable emergency floats. Two litters could be carried in external containers for casualty evacuation duties and an under-fuselage hook could be fitted for external slung cargo.

The first of two prototypes (s/n MM5001N and MM5002N, c/n 1 and 2), was flown in November 1965, and is shown above with the Paris Air Show catalog number H53 on the tail boom. Both aircraft were extensively tested wearing Italian Navy livery and coded 5-01 and 5-02, the latter crashed on May 7, 1971, and was damaged beyond repair. A production order for a batch of 23 aircraft was cancelled in 1973, but both prototypes are preserved in Italy."