AgustaWestland AW609 tiltrotor aims for 2016 FAA certification

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The AgustaWestland AW609 tiltrotor aircraft is aiming for FAA certification in 2016

The tiltrotor aircraft previously known as BA609, the AW609

The AW609 tiltrotor aircraft from AgustaWestland combines the benefits of a helicopter with the benefits of a fixed wing aircraft

The AW609 tiltrotor aircraft from AgustaWestland

The AW609 tiltrotor aircraft puts its VTOL capabilities to use

The tiltrotor aircraft previously known as BA609, the AW609 from AgustaWestland

The AW609 tiltrotor aircraft from AgustaWestland combines the VTOL capabilities of a helicopter with the benefits of a fixed wing aircraft

The AW609 tiltrotor aircraft

The AW609 boasts the speed, altitude and range benefits of a fixed wing aircraft

The AW609 cockpit

The AW609 tiltrotor aircraft puts its VTOL capabilities to use

The AW609 tiltrotor aircraft from AgustaWestland

Article Summary

We’ve been following the development of Eurocopter’s X3 demonstrator with interest in recent years, but it’s far from the only aircraft that aims to combine the vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities of a helicopter with the speed, range and altitude capabilities of a fixed wing aircraft. Tiltrotor aircraft that feature powered rotors mounted on rotating shafts or nacelles at the end of a fixed wing have been around for half a century, the most famous probably being the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey. While the V-22 is a military aircraft, AgustaWestland is developing its AW609 as a multi-role aircraft aimed at private, commercial, and government markets.

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