The Bell/Agusta BA-609 Tiltrotor

The Bell/Agusta BA-609 is a civil twin-engined tiltrotor VTOL aircraft with a configuration similar to the Bell Helicopter Textron/Boeing V-22 Osprey. It is being developed by Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company (BAAC), a joint venture between Bell Helicopter Textron and AgustaWestland. The first ground tests of the BA609 prototype began December 6, 2002 and the first flight took place on March 6, 2003 in Arlington, Texas, with Roy Hopkins and Dwayne Williams as test pilots. After 14 hours of helicopter-mode flight testing, the prototype was moved to a ground testing rig for ground-based testing of conversion modes. On June 3, 2005, having completed the ground-based testing, the prototype resumed flight testing and expansion of its flight envelope. This led to the first conversion to airplane mode while in flight on July 22, 2005. As of October 2008, the two flying aircraft have logged 365 flight-hours. Certification of the aircraft is projected for 2011. BAAC has received orders for nearly 80 aircraft.


General characteristics

* Crew: 1 or 2
* Capacity: 6 to 9 passengers/5,500 pounds (2,500 kg) payload
* Length: 44 ft (13.3 m)
* Wingspan: 60 ft (18.3 m)
* Height: 15 ft (4.5 m)
* 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 hp (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)