Commercial Tiltrotor Aircraft Begins Ground Run Testing
December 2002 (Newstream) - Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) today announced that the Bell/Agusta 609 (BA 609), the world's first commercial tiltrotor aircraft, has begun "ground run" testing in preparation for first flight. The testing of this revolutionary aircraft, jointly developed by Textron's Bell Helicopter unit and Agusta, an AgustaWestland company, is being conducted at Bell's Flight Research Center in Arlington, Texas.
The BA609 will undergo 40 to 50 hours of aircraft ground run testing prior to its first flight. During this process all of the aircraft systems will be tested and thoroughly checked. No date has been set yet for the first flight.
"Today marks a new benchmark date in aviation history," declared Bell Helicopter Chairman and CEO John Murphey. "With 70 orders from 40 customers in 18 countries, there is no doubt the BA609 will revolutionize air transportation."
"This success confirms Bell/Agusta's leading position in vertical lift technology," added AgustaWestland's CEO Amedeo Caporaletti.
With its rotors in the vertical position, the tiltrotor is able to takeoff, land and hover like a traditional helicopter. When the rotors are tilted forward to the horizontal position, the aircraft is able to fly with the high speed and range of a turboprop fixed wing airplane. The transition from helicopter mode to airplane mode takes 20 seconds, as does the transition from airplane mode to helicopter mode. This versatile capability enables the BA609 to fly with twice the speed and range of conventional helicopters.
The BA609 will be used in a wide variety of commercial and civil operations ranging from off-shore oil exploration to corporate transport, emergency medical service and small air carrier operations. It seats six to nine passengers and is expected to be certified by the FAA in 2007 with first deliveries to begin immediately following.
Bell/Agusta will produce a total of four prototype tiltrotor aircraft for flight-testing. Final assembly for production aircraft will take place at Bell's Amarillo, Texas, facility with another assembly line to be established at the Agusta plant in Italy.
Headquarters for the Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company is located at Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas. AgustaWestland (www.Agustawestland.com), a Finmeccanica and GKN Company, with primary operations in Cascina Costa, Italy, and Yeovil, United Kingdom, is a commercial enterprise, offering an unrivaled range of products designed to satisfy the most diverse requirements of civil and military customers. With turnover in 2001 exceeding $2.5 billion, AgustaWestland is committed to delivering outstanding products and services in globally competitive markets.
Bell Helicopter is a $1.6 billion, leading producer of commercial and military helicopters, and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce of over 7,500 employees serves customers flying Bell aircraft in over 120 countries.
Bell Helicopter is a division of Textron Inc., a $12 billion multi-industry company with more than 51,000 employees in 40 countries. The company leverages its global network of businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services in industries such as aircraft, fastening systems, industrial products and components and finance. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others. More information is available at www.textron.com.
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