Bell/Agusta BA609

Infobox Aircraft
name=BA609


caption=BA609 in airplane mode at Paris Air Show 2007
type=VTOL corporate transport
first flight= March 6 2003
introduced=
manufacturer= Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company
primary user=
more users=
number built =
unit cost =
variants with their own articles =

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.Frawley, Gerard: "The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004", page 48. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7]

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.American Helicopter Society's [http://www.vtol.org/news/issues305.html#ba609 VTOL Newsletter: March 2005] ] On June 3, 2005, having completed the ground-based testing, the prototype resumed flight testing and expansion of its flight envelope.American Helicopter Society's [http://www.vtol.org/news/issues605.html#bell VTOL Newsletter: June 2005] ] This led to the first conversion to airplane mode while in flight on July 22, 2005.American Helicopter Society's [http://www.vtol.org/news/issues705.html#tilt VTOL Newsletter: July 2005] ]

Certification of the aircraft is projected for 2011.cite press release| url=http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/company/pressReleases/PR_07_0618-04_609_TestPace.cfm| title=BAAC 609 Flight Test Continues Development Pace] BAAC has received orders for nearly 80 aircraft. [ [http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/ba609/ Bell Agusta BA609 Aircraft - Aerospace Technology ] ]

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. [Aviation Week [http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews/01nbaa2/newsmk20.htm "On the record"] . 2001]
* "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. [Aviation International News, [http://www.ainonline.com/Features/newrotorcraft03/ba609.html New Rotorcraft 2004] ]

pecifications

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?= plane
jet or prop?= prop

ref=The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004 and the Bell/Agusta Brochure [http://www.bellagusta.com/pdf/BA609_2004.pdf Bell/Agusta BA609 Brochure (2004)] ]

crew=1 or 2
capacity=6 to 9 passengers/5,500 lb (2,500 kg) payload
length main= 44 ft
length alt= 13.3 m
span main= 60 ft
span alt= 18.3 m
height main= 15 ft
height alt= 4.5 m
area main= ft²
area alt= m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 10,483 lb
empty weight alt= 4,765 kg
loaded weight main= lb
loaded weight alt= kg
useful load main= 5,500 lb
useful load alt= 2,495 kg
max takeoff weight main= 16,800 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 7,258 kg
more general=

engine (jet)=
type of jet=
number of jets=
thrust main= lbf
thrust alt= kN
thrust original=
afterburning thrust main= lbf
afterburning thrust alt= kN
engine (prop)= Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67A
type of prop= turboshaft
number of props= 2
power main= 1,940 hp
power alt= 1,447 kW
power original=

max speed main= 275 knots
max speed alt= 315 mph, 510 km/h
cruise speed main= 260 knots
cruise speed alt= 299 mph, 465 km/h
never exceed speed main= knots
never exceed speed alt= mph, km/h
stall speed main= knots
stall speed alt= mph, km/h
range main= 750 nm
range alt= 852 mi, 1390 km
ceiling main= 25,000 ft
ceiling alt= 7,620 m
climb rate main= 1,500 ft/min
climb rate alt= 7.6 m/s
loading main= lb/ft²
loading alt= kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= hp/lb
power/mass alt= W/kg
more performance=

armament=

avionics=

Interior Measurements

* Dimension (Internal Cabin):
** Length: 4.09 m (161 in)
** Width: 1.47 m (58 in)
** Height: 1.42 m (56 in)

References

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Bell XV-3
* Bell XV-15
* V-22 Osprey

similar aircraft=

sequence=
* 430 - 440 - 533 - 609

lists=
* List of VTOL aircraft

see also=
* Tiltrotor

External links

* [http://www.bellagusta.com/air_ba_main.cfm Bell/Agusta BA609 Official Website]
* [http://www.flug-revue.rotor.com/FRTypen/FRBB609.htm German aviation magazine]