Bell/Agusta BA609
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| BA609 | |
|---|---|
 BA609 in airplane mode at Paris Air Show 2007 |
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| Type | VTOL corporate transport |
| Manufacturer | Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company |
| Maiden flight | March 6, 2003 |
The Bell/Agusta BA609 is a civil twin-engined tiltrotor VTOL aircraft with a configuration similar to the Bell Helicopter Textron/Boeing V-22 Osprey. It is being developed by Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company (BAAC), a joint venture between Bell Helicopter Textron and AgustaWestland.[1]
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[edit] Design and development
The first ground tests of the BA609 prototype began December 6, 2002 and the first flight took place on March 6 2003 in Arlington, Texas, with Roy Hopkins and Dwayne Williams as test pilots. After 14 hours of helicopter-mode flight testing, the prototype was moved to a ground testing rig for ground-based testing of conversion modes.[2] On June 3, 2005, having completed the ground-based testing, the prototype resumed flight testing and expansion of its flight envelope.[3] This led to the first conversion to airplane mode while in flight on July 22, 2005.[4]
Certification of the aircraft is projected for 2011.[5] BAAC has received orders for nearly 80 aircraft.[6]
[edit] Costs
The cost of the vehicle has not been announced; deposits are taken to reserve the right to purchase an aircraft. Final price is to be announced at least 24 months before first delivery.
- "At least US$10 Million" - Terry Stinson, then chairman and CEO of Bell Helicopters, in 2001.[7]
- "Early orders were taken at a price of between $8 and $10 million dollars, adjusted to year of delivery. Those were all sold and, since 1999, orders have been at a price to be confirmed no later than 24 months before aircraft delivery" - Don Barbour, then executive marketing director, in 2004.[8]
[edit] Specifications
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004[1] and the Bell/Agusta Brochure[9]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 or 2
- Capacity: 6 to 9 passengers/5,500 lb (2,500 kg) payload
- Length: 44 ft (13.3 m)
- Wingspan: 60 ft (18.3 m)
- Height: 15 ft (4.5 m)
- Wing area: ft² (m²)
- Empty weight: 10,483 lb (4,765 kg)
- Loaded weight: lb (kg)
- Useful load: lb (kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 16,800 lb (7,258 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67A turboshaft, 1,940 hp (1,447 kW) each
Performance
- Never exceed speed: knots (mph, km/h)
- Maximum speed: 275 knots (315 mph, 510 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 260 knots (299 mph, 465 km/h)
- Stall speed: knots (mph, km/h)
- Range: 750 nm (852 mi, 1390 km)
- Service ceiling 25,000 ft (7,620 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,500 ft/min (7.6 m/s)
- Wing loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
- Power/mass: hp/lb (W/kg)
[edit] Interior Measurements
- Dimension (Internal Cabin):
- Length: 4.09 m (161 in)
- Width: 1.47 m (58 in)
- Height: 1.42 m (56 in)
[edit] References
- ^ a b Frawley, Gerard: The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004, page 48. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7
- ^ American Helicopter Society's VTOL Newsletter: March 2005
- ^ American Helicopter Society's VTOL Newsletter: June 2005
- ^ American Helicopter Society's VTOL Newsletter: July 2005
- ^ "BAAC 609 Flight Test Continues Development Pace". Press release.
- ^ Bell Agusta BA609 Aircraft - Aerospace Technology
- ^ Aviation Week On the record. 2001
- ^ Aviation International News, New Rotorcraft 2004
- ^ Bell/Agusta BA609 Brochure (2004)
[edit] See also
Related development
Related lists
[edit] External links
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