Tilt rotor: AgustaWestland AW609

 

The AgustaWestland AW609, formerly the Bell/Agusta BA609, is a twin-engined tiltrotor VTOL aircraft with a configuration similar to the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey. It is aimed at the civil aviation market.

The AW609 is a tiltrotor aircraft, capable of landing where conventional fixed wing aircraft cannot, such as heliports or very small airports, while having twice the speed and the range of any available helicopter. Outwardly, the AW609 appears to be similar to the military-orientated V-22 Osprey, however they share very few components; unlike the V-22, the AW609 has a pressurised cabin.
The AW609 is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67A turboshaft engines; in the event of single engine failure, either engine is capable of providing power to both prop rotors. Avionics include a triple-redundant digital fly-by-wire flight control system, a head up display system, and FADEC; the cockpit has been designed so that in Instrument flight rules conditions the AW609 can be flown by a single pilot^.
Bell/Agusta aims the aircraft "at the government and military markets". In 2007, Bell/Agusta stated that they intend for the BA609 compete with corporate business jets and helicopters; specifically, the company has stated that the BA609 would be of interest to any operator that has a mixed fleet of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. In 2004, Lt. Gen. Michael Hough, USMC deputy commandant for aviation, requested that Bell conduct studies into arming the AW609, potentially to act as an escort for V-22s.
In 2001, Terry Stinson, then chairman and CEO of Bell Helicopters, declared that costs will amount to "at least US$10 million". In 2004, Don Barbour, then executive marketing director, stated that "early orders were taken at a price of between $8 and $10 million dollars... since 1999, orders have been at a price to be confirmed no later than 24 months before aircraft delivery. In 2012, industry reporters estimated that unit cost may come to $30 million.


General characteristics

• Crew: 1 or 2
• Capacity: 6 to 9 passengers/5,500 pounds (2,500 kg) payload
• Length: 44 ft (13.3 m)
• Rotor diameter: ()
• Height: 16 ft 3 in (5.1 m) nacelles vertical; (21 ft 10 in (6.6 m) nacelles horizontal
• Wingspan: 38 ft 5 in (11.7 m)
• Width with rotors: 60 ft 5 in (14.1 m)
• Rotor diameter: 25 ft 10 in (7.92 m))
• Disc area: 981.75 ft² (98.53 m²)
• Empty weight: 10,483 lb (4,765 kg)
• Useful load: 5,500 lb (2,500 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 16,800 lb (7,600 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67A turboshaft, 1,940 shp (1,447 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 275 knots (315 mph, 510 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 260 knots (299 mph, 465 km/h)
• Range: 750 nmi (852 mi, 1,390 km)
• Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,620 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,500 ft/min (7.62 m/s)
• Disc loading: 15.8 lb/sq ft (77 kg/m²)