Maiden flight of first production AW609

The first production Agusta Westland AW609 tiltrotor, N609LH, (AC5 / MSN 63005) made its maiden flight on 13 October 2022. Taking off from Agusta Westland’s American final assembly line in Philadelphia (PA) the machine performed as expected as respect to the initial in-flight evaluation of systems and general handling.

The first production aircraft joins a prototype based in the US and two more located in Italy, all currently involved in the last stages of testing activities ahead of (Federal Aviation Administration) FAA certification.

The first prototype is N609TR (MSN 60001), the third AW609 is N609PA (MSN 63003) while the fourth prototype is N609PH (AC4 / MSN 63004). It made its first flight on 23 December 2020.

On 30 October 2015, during the early stages of test flying the second prototype N609AG (MSN 60002) crashed and burst into flames near Santhià, Vercelli, Italy during high speed trials. Both occupants, one Italian and one US test pilot, died in the crash.

Currently, three customers’ production aircraft are on the dedicated final assembly line at various stages of construction in Philadelphia.

These tiltrotors are destined for the AW609 launch customer in the United States, the Bristow Group. Another, yet undisclosed long-established European operator of Leonardo’s helicopters who will aim to introduce four tiltrotors to carry out a range of passenger transport missions.

Photo: Leonardo
Data: Rotorspot