An aircraft that can take off and land vertically like a helicopter but fly farther and more quickly like an airplane could be a game changer in civil transportation. That's Leonardo's hopes for the long-delayed AW609, but a high price may dim its chances.
helicopter factory of the Italian aerospace conglomerate Leonardo, test pilot Dan Wells takes dry delight in recounting the confusion the AW609 tiltrotor has caused air traffic controllers.
Others are trying to create futuristic electric and hybrid aircraft that can fulfill that mission. According to the consultancy Roland Berger, there are over 90under way around the world to develop electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles intended to enable city dwellers to escape the morass of snarled traffic below.
The AW609 is the culmination of a rocky 25-year effort begun by Boeing and Bell to make a civilian version of the V-22 Osprey, which they developed for the U.S. military. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney tried to kill the V-22 during the George H.W. Bush administration over the program’s high costs. Congress overruled him, in part, because lawmakers believed that fostering tiltrotor technology could lead to a transformation of civil aviation.
Leonardo said in a statement: “All AW609 program development and testing activities have been performed in full compliance with national and international rules and procedures.” In airplane mode, the AW609 is designed to mimic the handling and cabin experience of the popular King Air turboprop. Unlike helicopters, the AW609 is pressurized, allowing it to cruise as high as 25,000 feet, smoothly and more efficiently above most weather systems. Leonardo says in cruise it will be about 10 decibels quieter than the average helicopter, with much lower vibration in the cabin.
Sunick touts the tiltrotor’s potential to allow corporate flight departments and the wealthy to downsize their fleets, which often include helicopters to get from urban centers to their private jet at the airport. The AW609 may well be able to perform most helicopter missions, but it’s arguable whether it’s capable of replacing the corporate plane for many customers.
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