The BA609 is a six to nine passenger twin-engined tiltrotor mainly intended for the civilian market but
with market applications for corporate business, offshore operators and government customers for a
variety of roles including search and rescue, and internal security team insertion.
On May 1999, a compatibility test was demonstrated by the US Coast Guard using the predecessor XV-15 under Bell 's name of HV-609 on board a 270 foot USCG cutter, underway south of Key West, Florida. The test proved that deck compatibility is expected with the BA609 tiltrotor operationally on typical USCG ships.
On July 22 2005, prototype #1 performed its first conversion to aeroplane mode in flight.
On June 2011, The programme was bought by AgustaWestland and renamed AW609
First Flight : March 6, 2003 On May 1999, a compatibility test was demonstrated by the US Coast Guard using the predecessor XV-15 under Bell 's name of HV-609 on board a 270 foot USCG cutter, underway south of Key West, Florida. The test proved that deck compatibility is expected with the BA609 tiltrotor operationally on typical USCG ships.
On July 22 2005, prototype #1 performed its first conversion to aeroplane mode in flight.
On June 2011, The programme was bought by AgustaWestland and renamed AW609
Crew: 2 + 9
Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67A x 1447 kW
Speed : Max 510 km/h
Service Ceiling: 7600 m
Range: 1400 Km
Weight: Empty: 4765 kg - Max: 7200
Payload: 2500 Kg
Rotors Diamenter: 7.93 m
Length: 13 m
Height: 4.5 m
Wingspan: 10 m
BA609 News Archive:
Bell / Agusta 609 Tiltrotor Presentation Oct 1999 Bell Textron Enters the 21st Century With New Orders Dec 1999 World's first commercial Tiltrotor training academy Nov 2000 Wing mated to Bell/Agusta Tiltrotor BA609 Dec 2000 BA609 Tests Set Stage For First Hover Flight Dec 2002 BA609 Tiltrotor Achieves Airplane Mode Jul 2005 Bell and AgustaWestland realignment of Joint Venture Nov 2005 BA609 Tiltrotor Second Prototype Achieves First Flight Nov 2006 BAAC 609 Flight Test Continues Development Pace Jun 2007 