BA609 Design Frozen; First Flight in 2001

摘要

Bell/Agusta Aerospace Co. is completing final design details for the BA609 civil tiltrotor and plans first flight for next year, followed by a test program leading to FAA certification in 2003. Jim Rogers, managing director of Bell/Agusta Aerospace, said the company has received 80 orders for the twin-engine 609 from customers in 18 countries. The aircraft combines the vertical lift advantages of a helicopter with the high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop business aircraft. He said a current delivery position is not available until 2006. Initial aircraft will be sold at $8-10 million, but pricing has not been established for later production aircraft.