The world's first civil tiltrotor aircraft, the Bell/Agusta BA609, returned to flight status Friday at Bell Helicopter's XworX research and development facility. The 1.3-hour flight was the first for the six-to-nine passenger tiltrotor since 2003.

The programmed pause in flight testing was for developmental engineering configuration. During today's flight in hover mode, the BA609 flew around the pattern at Arlington Municipal Airport at a top speed of 86 knots with 75-degree forward tilt on the outboard nacelles. Bell/Agusta Chief Test Pilot Roy Hopkins and Pietro Venanzi were at the controls. The aircraft hovered forwards, sideways and backwards demonstrating excellent handling qualities. In airplane mode the BA609 will achieve a top speed of over 300 miles per hour, making it the world's fastest civil vertical lift aircraft.

During flight expansion over the course of the next month the BA609 will transition into airplane mode.

"The enormous success of today's flight," declared Bell/Agusta Engineering Vice President Jack Gallagher, "clearly demonstrates we are ready for full tilt on the 609."

FMI: www.bellagustaaerospace.com