AgustaWestland testing new aerodynamics on AW609 TiltRotor

The Second prototype aircraft is being test flown at the AgustaWestland Cascina Costa flight test facility in Italy.

AgustaWestland is testing a number of aerodynamic improvements that should increase the performance of the AW609 TiltRotor aircraft.

The prototype aircraft is flying with a modified tailfin at the Italian test facility. The modified vertical fin is one part of a extensive package of product improvements which also include a new, more aerodynamic, design for the engine exhaust nozzles and changes to the prop-rotor spinner cones.

Clive Scott, AW609 programme manager, said: “These aerodynamic improvements, new avionics, new cockpit display system and a large number of other improvements will together give the aircraft greater performance and mission capabilities, making it even more attractive for carrying out a wide range of missions which can benefit from its much higher cruise speed, high altitude cruise capability and longer range, when compared to existing helicopters or other proposed high speed rotorcraft.”

The first prototype is flying in the US, while the second prototype continues flying in Italy. The first two prototypes have completed nearly 800 hours in the flight test programme. A further two prototypes are under final assembly in Italy.

The company released a video from Heli-Expo 2012 about the AW609