AgustaWestland is likely to take a larger share of development work for the BA609 civil tiltrotor from partner Bell because the European market for the aircraft is developing more rapidly.
Key city-to-city executive routes, a prime market for the BA609, are more mature in Europe and the partners in Bell/Agusta Aerospace are keen to capitalise on that opportunity. Although the certification timetable won’t change, AgustaWestland could take a great proportion of the flight test programme as part of any agreement.
“We’re talking about it,” says Mike Blake, Bell executive vice president customer solutions: “The market in the US is still there, but we believe Europe will be earlier. It makes sense to discuss how we split the work.”
Blake says Bell retains a long term commitment to the programme, for which it holds intellectual property rights. Bell chief executive Dick Millman says the significant differences in bringing civil and military aircraft to market are apparent on the BA609. “With the 609 we are typically looking at individuals purchasing aircraft, not the military with all its support already in place in terms of training.”
The tiltrotor will be performing in the flying display at Farnborough for the first time this week, with executives promising an even wider flight envelope than that of the Bell Boeing V-22 military tiltrotor that made its debut in 2006.
The BA609 flight test programme has accrued more than 300h, with aircraft achieving a 25,000ft operating ceiling. Test aircraft 1 is based at Bell’s plant in Arlington, Texas, while the second testbed operates from Cameri in Italy.
Source: Flight International