The first prototype Bell/Agusta BA609 tiltrotor could fly as early as this summer following ground run tests due to begin in April, says the US-Italian joint venture. The BA609, which was developed from technology from the Bell Boeing V22 Osprey, is being prepared for the tests at Bell's Arlington, Texas, research centre, where powerplants, hydraulics and electrical systems will be tested.
Source: Flight International
Comac’s ARJ21 has completed its first commercial flight from a high-altitude airport in China, the latest in a series of milestones for the regional jet.
Airbus’s framework agreement with Spirit AeroSystems shows that the aircraft manufacturer might yet acquire Scottish or Malaysian operations of Spirit if a third-party buyer does not emerge. Both Sprit’s Glasgow Prestwick division and its Subang airport arm in western Kuala Lumpur supply components for Airbus programmes. Neither has been included ...
Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury admits that the airframer was not expecting to be negotiating an acquisition of key aircraft programmes from beleaguered US firm Spirit AeroSystems, but insists it is necessary and that Airbus is ready to absorb them.
