Leonardo AW609 - Wikipedia
The Leonardo AW609, formerly the AgustaWestland AW609, and originally the Bell/Agusta BA609, is a twin-engined tiltrotor VTOL aircraft with an overall configuration similar to that of the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey. It is capable of landing vertically like a helicopter while having a range and speed in excess of conventional rotorcraft. The AW609 is aimed at the civil aviation market, in particular VIP customers and offshore oil and gas operators. It has progressed from a concept in the late 1990s, to development and testing, and is working towards certification in the 2020s.
When the project started it was a joint venture between Boeing, Bell, and Augusta to capitalize on V-22 Osprey development, and bring a commercial civilian tilt-rotor to market. The other part of this project lead to the Huey replacement the AB139. During the long development, Augusta became AugustaWestland, and Leonardo took main responsibility for the project.
The BA609 drew on experience gained from Bell's earlier experimental tiltrotor, the XV-15.[2][3] In 1996, Bell and Boeing formed a partnership to develop a civil tiltrotor aircraft. In March 1998, Boeing pulled out of the project. In September 1998, Agusta became a partner in the development program.[2] This led to the establishment of the Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company (BAAC), a joint venture between Bell Helicopter and AgustaWestland, to develop and manufacture the aircraft.[4]
