AgustaWestland AW609

Formerly known as the Bell/Agusta BA609 AgustaWestland announced the acquisition of ownership of the programme in June 2011 from Bell Agusta Aerospace Company (BAAC).

As of December 2011, the two prototypes have achieved more than 600 flight hours and the AW609 programme is to be managed by a single Integrated Development Team, based in Cascina Costa, Italy. AgustaWestland will also open a new operational base in Arlington, Texas, to manage US based tiltrotor operations.

As of July 2012, approximately 60 AW609 units have already been ordered by around 40 customers in over 20 countries.

The second prototype, AC2, was lost in tragic accident on October 30, 2015. The First prototype resumed flight testing on August 3, 2016. Certification delayed at least up to 2018.

As of February 2019, the AW609 progress ahead of FAA certification including first production aircraft entering final assembly at the Philadelphia facility.

In 2021, AC4 moved to Leonardo Italy.

On February 22, 2023 FAA completed flight test as pre-TIA (Type Inspection Authorization)

In March 2023, EASA crew flew for the first time the AW609.

The AW609 is being certified under a brand-new FAA "Powered-Lift" category, which has required the development of entirely new pilot training and operating rules.

Factors such as U.S. federal government shutdowns and revisions to the TIA process have pushed the timeline to enter comercial service from earlier 2025/2026 estimates into 2027.