AgustaWestland AW609

AgustaWestland · Italy · first flew 2003 · transport aircraft

The AgustaWestland AW609 is a commercial tiltrotor aircraft developed jointly by Bell Helicopter and AgustaWestland, capable of vertical take-off and landing like a helicopter while cruising at fixed-wing speeds. It targets offshore oil and gas transport, VIP, and emergency medical markets.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × turboshaft, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	13.4 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Tiltrotor convertible aircraft with rotating wingtip nacelles
Transitions between helicopter and fixed-wing flight modes
Civil derivative of the V-22 Osprey concept

Unmistakable tiltrotor configuration with large proprotors mounted in rotating wingtip nacelles; much smaller than the V-22 Osprey but shares the same fundamental design principle.

Specifications

The AgustaWestland AW609 has a length of 13.4 m (44 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10 m (33 ft).
Typical crew: 2 pilots, up to 9 passengers.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Originally the Bell/Agusta BA609, development began in the 1990s as a civil tiltrotor derived from Bell's V-22 technology. AgustaWestland (later Leonardo) took full ownership of the programme; certification has been a lengthy process extending into the 2020s.

Variants

Single development configuration; production aircraft will be designated AW609 with planned variants for medevac, SAR, and VIP roles.

Where you'll see it

Not yet in commercial service as of the mid-2020s; certification testing continues with the FAA and EASA.

Related aircraft

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