Gear Up! BA609 Program Moves Forward | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

 Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-04.29.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.23.24

 Airborne-Unlimited-04.24.24 Airborne-FltTraining-04.25.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.26.24

Wed, Jun 15, 2005

Gear Up! BA609 Program Moves Forward

World's First Civil Tiltrotor Achieves Significant Flight Test Envelope Expansion

The Bell/Agusta 609 completed its first flight with the landing gear up and the proprotor nacelles at 60 degrees in flight testing at the Bell Helicopter Xworx in Arlington, Texas.

"We believe conversion to full airplane mode is only a few flights away," Executive Program Director Don Barbour told reporters at the Paris Air Show.

The first gear up flight for the six to nine passenger tiltrotor was completed Monday, June 13, with Bell/Agusta pilots Roy Hopkins and Pietro Venanzi at the controls. With the nacelles at 60 degrees and gear up the BA609 achieved a top speed Monday of 125 kts.

When the BA609 does achieve full airplane mode conversion it will have a top speed of 275 kts., making it the fastest civil vertical-lift aircraft in the world.

Bell/Agusta is a joint venture between Bell Helicopter, a Textron company and Agusta/Westland. A second aircraft is scheduled to fly before the end of the year.

A total of four test aircraft will be used for the flight test program leading to certification and deliveries in 2008.

FMI: www.bellhelicopter.textron.com, www.bellagusta.com

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.26.24): DETRESFA (Distress Phrase)

DETRESFA (Distress Phrase) The code word used to designate an emergency phase wherein there is reasonable certainty that an aircraft and its occupants are threatened by grave and i>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.26.24)

"General aviation is at the forefront of developing and introducing innovative technologies that will transform the entire aviation industry..." Source: Kyle Martin, Vice President>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.27.24): Direct

Direct Straight line flight between two navigational aids, fixes, points, or any combination thereof. When used by pilots in describing off-airway routes, points defining direct ro>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.27.24)

Aero Linx: Women in Corporate Aviation Women in Corporate Aviation support individuals seeking career advancement and professional development in the business aviation industry. Me>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.27.24)

“We would like to thank the many volunteers that help throughout the year to pull off the event, as well as the several reviewers, judges, and SURVICE staff that provide team>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Change Display

Headlines Only | Headlines w/ Teasers | View Everything

Advertisement

Top Videos

Airborne-NextGen 04.30.24: Skydweller Flies, Cassio 330, UAV Design Competition

Airborne 04.29.24: EAA B-25 Rides, Textron 2024, G700 Deliveries

Airborne 04.26.24: Beta Alia 250, SPEEA v Boeing, Anti-Av Climate Attacks

See All

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC