AgustaWestland AW609 completes first customer demo flights

AgustaWestland AW609 Tiltrotor

AgustaWestland completed the first customer demo flights of its new AW609 TiltRotor during the 2014 Heli-Expo 2014 in Anaheim, California.

AgustaWestland AW609 Tiltrotor

AgustaWestland completed the first customer demonstration flight of the AW609 on 25 February.

The round-trip flight began at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, and continued off the coast of Southern California.

The flight lasted 25 minutes and gave Chevron AW139 pilot Patick Niven flight experience of the AW609 Tiltrotor in both helicopter and aircraft modes.

Patrick Niven said: “The avionics and controls of the AW609 resemble that of a traditional helicopter and therefore are familiar and easily mastered by helicopter pilots.”

“As a pilot supporting offshore oil and gas operations, it is clear to me that the AW609 is uniquely positioned to achieve both the necessary speed and distance to reach deepwater oil rigs,” added Niven.

“Today’s first customer demonstration flight of the AW609 is evidence of AgustaWestland’s intense commitment and progress towards FAA certification,” said Daniele Romiti, CEO. “We are excited to have captivated the interest of offshore oil and gas pilots and maintain that the AW609, when certified, will serve untapped missions and operations around the world.”