Leonardo AW249 Fenice
With the Agusta A129's original design coming from the late 1970s, early 1980s, a replacement was due in the 2020s. Hence, Leonardo (successor of Agusta and AgustaWestland) took the A129 as a starting point for the AW249 Fenice. The basic lines of the A129 are still visible in some way, but there are many differences. For example, the Fenice has a five blade main rotor and a more or less the same tail with a tail gear attached to a ventral fin, except that the tail rotor is on the right, has four blades and is canted to the left. Also, there is a single horizontal stabiliser on the top left. Additionally, the side of the tail boom has flat surfaces, as has the fuselage. The crew still sits under a two part canopy, but it is continuous with a steep grade. The canopies open at the sides; the top panels are fixed. The pilot in the back sits higher than the weapons operator in the front. Two rectangular external nacelles with the turboshaft engines are attached to the top middle side of the fuselage. Just below are the short stub wings with anhedral with two main weapon pylons below each, and two smaller ones at the tips. Finally, another main feature is that the AW249 has cheeks like the AH-64A, below which is a fixed single wheel main gear.
The AW249 has rectangular nacelles and stub wings with anhedral, clearly visible from this angle. Note the double pylons on the wing tips.
The tail boom of the AW249 has flat sides with a distinct body line. The A129's type tail gear remains, but the AW249 has a four blade tail rotor on the right, that is slightly tilted to the left.
Similar helicopters
Some helicopters look so similar to the AW249 that you may confuse them. Below you can read how to distinguish them.
Differences AW249 & A129 Mangusta
Looking at the A129, you can see the heritage of the AW249. In particular the tail and rotor system are similar, except that the A129 has a two blade tail rotor on the left and low horizontal stabilisers in both sides. The canopies also look similar, but are stepped on the A129. Finally, the A129 lacks cheeks for avionics, but has an external box for the ammunition belt feeding the chin mounted gun.
Differences AW249 & AH-64 Apache
The successor of the Agusta A129 has a continuous top of the canopy much like on the AH-64, and also clear 'cheeks' for the (weapon) systems. The AW249 has a five blade main rotor, a regular four blade tail rotor on the right side and a tail wheel attached to a stub that could be regarded as ventral fin. (photo: Italian Army/WikiMedia)
Differences AW249 & Z-21
A lot is still unknown for this Chinese attack helicopter, but from the first photos that surfaced the Z-21 appears to be similar in appearance to the AW249, including a continuous canopy, a five blade main rotor and a regular four blade tail rotor on the right. The gear and engine nacelles are more similar to those of the Apache though.
Differences AW249 & Harbin Z-19
The canopy and gear are a bit like on the AW249, but for the rest the Z-19 is significantly different. The Z-19 has a fenestron and horizontal stabilisers with large endplates, which come from the Harbin Z-9. The same applies to the engines and (main) rotor system. (photo: Alert5/WikiMedia)
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Differences AW249 & HAL Prachand
India's combat helicopter has a canopy somewhat similar to that of the AW249, a four blade tail rotor on the right side and also a sort of body line, but there are many differences. The Prachand has no sponsons or 'cheeks' with avionics. Moreover, the heli has a fixed tail wheel attached to a long strut halfway the tail boom, and low mounted horizontal stabilisers. (photo: IAF/WikiMedia)