The troubled Bell/Agusta BA609 civil tiltrotor programme faces further delays as a shortage of cash forces the joint venture to put the brakes on development efforts. The partners had hoped to get the first test tiltrotor airborne by June, but this is looking increasingly unlikely.
Industry sources say budget changes mean the funds are no longer available to maintain the BA609's latest schedule. As recently as February Bell/Agusta said the tiltrotor would fly by the end of the second quarter, but cautioned the schedule would be "event driven".
This has led to suggestions that the programme is close to being shelved, but sources say work will continue at a much reduced pace. Bell Helicopter was not available for comment. Moves to slow the BA609 follow the recent creation by parent company Textron of an Aviation Sector headed by former Cessna chairman Russ Meyer in a bid to recapture market share lost to Eurocopter. The BA609's success hinges largely on the delayed V-22 Osprey military tiltrotor.
Source: Flight International
