Bell/Agusta BA609
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| BA609 | |
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| BA609 in airplane mode at Paris Air Show 2007 | |
| Role | VTOL corporate transport |
| Manufacturer | Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company |
| First flight | March 6, 2003 |
The Bell/Agusta BA609 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.[1]
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[edit] Design and development
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.[2] On June 3, 2005, having completed the ground-based testing, the prototype resumed flight testing and expansion of its flight envelope.[3] This led to the first conversion to airplane mode while in flight on July 22, 2005.[4] As of October 2008, the two flying aircraft have logged 365 flight-hours.[5]
Certification of the aircraft is projected for 2011.[6] BAAC has received orders for nearly 80 aircraft.[7]
[edit] Costs
The cost of the vehicle has not been announced; deposits are taken to reserve the right to purchase an aircraft. Final price is to be announced at least 24 months before first delivery.
- "At least US$10 Million" - Terry Stinson, then chairman and CEO of Bell Helicopters, in 2001.[8]
- "Early orders were taken at a price of between $8 and $10 million dollars, adjusted to year of delivery. Those were all sold and, since 1999, orders have been at a price to be confirmed no later than 24 months before aircraft delivery" - Don Barbour, then executive marketing director, in 2004.[9]
[edit] Specifications
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004[1] and the Bell/Agusta Brochure[10]
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)
[edit] Interior measurements
- Dimension (Internal Cabin):
- Length: 161 inches (4.1 m)
- Width: 58 inches (1.5 m)
- Height: 56 inches (1.4 m)
[edit] References
- ^ a b Frawley, Gerard: The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004, page 48. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7
- ^ American Helicopter Society's VTOL Newsletter: March 2005
- ^ American Helicopter Society's VTOL Newsletter: June 2005
- ^ American Helicopter Society's VTOL Newsletter: July 2005
- ^ Padfield, R Randall (2008-10-07). "BA609 Civil Tiltrotor Still on Schedule", AINonline.com. Retrieved on 20 October 2008.
- ^ BAAC 609 Flight Test Continues Development Pace. Press release. http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/company/pressReleases/PR_07_0618-04_609_TestPace.cfm.
- ^ "Bell Agusta BA609 Aircraft - Aerospace Technology". http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/ba609/.
- ^ Aviation Week On the record. 2001
- ^ Aviation International News, New Rotorcraft 2004
- ^ "Bell/Agusta BA609 Brochure (2004)" (PDF). http://www.bellagusta.com/pdf/BA609_2004.pdf.
[edit] See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bell/Agusta BA609 |
Related development
Related lists
[edit] External links
- Bell/Agusta BA609 official website
- German aviation magazine
- Up, up, and away: Civilian tiltprop back in the skies
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