The Italian helicopter manufacturer Leonardo has reached a new stage of the AW609 converter glider program: the first flight of the production prototype has been performed at the company’s production base in Philadelphia (USA). The company also announced that three more vehicles for the first customers are in the final assembly stage.
The first production prototype (AC5) is formally the first representative of the AW609, since four prototypes during the program received significant modifications to the original version developed jointly by Bell (USA) and AgustaWestland (Italy-England) and called BA609. One of the prototypes was lost during a test flight in 2015. Upon completion of the test program, the AC5 will be handed over to the program’s startup customer, the Bristow Group, a major helicopter operator.
“[This phase of the program] demonstrates the level of maturity this revolutionary program has reached and our ability to be a trailblazer in this growing segment of the helicopter market,” said Leonardo Helicopters Managing Director Jean Pierrot Cutillo.
A convertor is an aircraft that can take off and land vertically like a helicopter. At the same time the horizontal flight is performed in the aircraft mode.
Despite progress in program development, the manufacturer is still awaiting approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to certify the machine in the Powered Lift category (vertical takeoff and landing aircraft). This category means that the convertible is certified under a set of standards that include both FAR Part 29 (helicopters with a takeoff weight greater than 7,000 pounds) and Part 23 and 25 (airplanes).
The AW609 is one of several commercial aviation programs that have faced certification delays – partly due to the COVID – 19 pandemic failures, partly due to the revealed and highly publicized violations in the certification of the Boeing 737MAX aircraft.
Leonardo plans to use AC5 as a demonstrator for customers and to “evaluate and expand program capabilities, as well as to support aircraft entry into service,” the company said.
During the program, test prototypes flew a total of 1,900 hours in the U.S. and Italy. The manufacturer says the program has reached the final stage of testing before FAA certification.
The Leonardo branch in Philadelphia is preparing to bring the AW609 to market: in particular, a new training center for flight and maintenance personnel, including full-flight simulators, is being created.
Maximum speed of the AW609 is 270 knots (500 km/h), the range is 1,300 km (1,850 km with extra fuel), the operating ceiling is 25,000 feet. In VIP configuration the saloon can accommodate 7 passengers. The power plant includes two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C – 67A turboshaft engines, the cabin is equipped with the Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics system
