BELL BOEING PLANS to offer its Model 609 civil tilt-rotor to the US military as a trainer for crews destined to fly the V-22 tilt-rotor transport.
Development of the nine-passenger 609 was launched in November, with a first flight planned for mid-1999 (Flight International, 27 November-3 December, P10).
The joint venture believes that the $8-10 million 609 offers a cheaper alternative for transitioning fixed- and rotary-wing pilots to tilt-rotor flying than training them on the $30 million V-22 itself.
Delivery of 425 MV-22 tactical transports to the US Marine Corps is to begin in 1999, and the first unit to be formed will be dedicated to training. Bell Boeing says that the Marines plan eventually to train entry-level pilots on the V-22 itself.
The 7,260kg-gross-weight 609, is about one-third the size of the V-22, but will have similar handling characteristics. Design of the aircraft's Lear Astronics triplex digital flight-control system is based on that of the V-22's Lockheed Martin fly-by-wire controls.
Tilt-rotor training is one of the quasi-military missions Bell Boeing sees for the civil tilt-rotor. Others include VIP transport and search and rescue.
In the latter role, the team believes that the 275kt (510km/h)-cruise, 1,400km (750nm)-range 609 could replace both the fixed-wing search and rotary-wing rescue aircraft now used.
Bell Helicopter Textron will deliver the first four of nine Model 412EP twin-turbine helicopters for the UK Defence Helicopter Flying School in December.
The aircraft will be delivered to Bristow Helicopters at Redhill for avionics and external-hoist modifications before being transferred to the school, which will be set up at RAF Shawbury by the FBS consortium of Flight Refuelling, Bristow and Serco.
The remaining five 412s will be delivered by May 1997.
Source: Flight International
