After a hiatus of more than two years, the Bell/Agusta BA609 civil tiltrotor returned to flight status on June 3, flying for 1.3 hours. The aircraft, S/N001 and the only BA609 to fly to date, last flew on April 14, 2003, after accumulating 14 flight hours from the time of its first flight on March 7 of that year. It also logged some 41 ground test hours.
Rotorcraft » Rotorcraft Aircraft
News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft.
December 13, 2006 - 1:10pm
Major helicopter manufacturers here in Paris are eagerly awaiting the expected release next month of a U.S. Air Force request for proposal (RFP) for a combat search-and-rescue helicopter to replace some 100 aging Sikorsky HH-60Gs. The RFP is expected to request 141 personnel recovery vehicles (PRVs) at a value of about $10 billion, with initial entry into service in 2011.
December 13, 2006 - 12:27pm
An air-medical AB139 that will be used by Italian operator Airgreen during next year’s Winter Olympic Games in Turin is on display here in Paris on the ramp beside the Bell/Agusta Aerospace chalet (A382). The twin-turbine helicopter’s unobstructed, 282-cu.-ft.
December 12, 2006 - 12:12pm
Bell’s 429 IFR light twin caused quite a stir at its February 2005 launch during the Helicopter Association International show in Anaheim, California. Not only did it replace a machine with a shelf-life of only 11 months–the 427 IFR–but it embodied many features of what the manufacturer has hailed as a new approach to rotorcraft design.
December 12, 2006 - 9:00am
NH Industries (NHI) has put project studies for a commercial version of the NH90 helicopter on the back burner. The multinational partnership had been studying a civil version of the NH90 military utility rotorcraft for possible application in governmental, executive and offshore-support roles.
December 12, 2006 - 8:41am
Bell Helicopter Textron’s vision for a brand-new line of rotorcraft known as the modular affordable product line (MAPL) has sharpened further now that a powerplant design advertised to meet its lofty efficiency requirement is appearing on the horizon.
December 12, 2006 - 8:25am
Unless you have stood next to a Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor–and you won’t be able to at Le Bourget this week because it’s not here–it is difficult to fully comprehend what an impressive piece of engineering it is and what a struggle of wills it must have taken to bring it to this stage.
December 11, 2006 - 11:20am
A Royal Air Force Merlin helicopter is the leading hardware item in a major participation at the Dubai show by the UK Ministry of Defence and its associated Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO).
December 11, 2006 - 5:11am
A new two-seat helicopter powered by a twin-pack engine is being shown for the first time on Stand W903. Although roughly the size of a Robinson R22, the Swisscopter is notable for its innovative propulsion system that provides a level of safety unusual in this class of helicopter.
December 8, 2006 - 7:33am
AgustaWestland and Eurocopter might be competitors in the helicopter market, but they seem to be decidedly good friends when it comes to defining rotorcraft for the future. In addition to partnering on the Erica tiltwing research project, they have joined forces on another European-funded project, dubbed Friendcopter.
