AgustaWestland to move AW609 production to Philadelphia

AgustaWestland will move its AW609 tilt-motor production line to Philadelphia.
The company says that it will move most of its flight test program to its US manufacturing facility as well.
During a pre-Heli-Expo 2015 press conference, Clive Scott, program manager, revealed that the AW609 will be priced around the range of a conventional super-medium helicopter.
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Although AgustaWestland refused to answer questions about aircafts cost, the pricing is believed to be around the $24 million mark, which is considerably lower than the $35 million estimate that Bell Helicopters had made before they were bought out from the programme.
The company is expecting to receive certification for the new helicopter / turboprop hybrid during late 2017, with customer deliveries beginning during the first quarter of 2018.
AgustaWestland displayed an AW609 during Heli-Expo wearing a dual colour scheme, with Eastern Airways on one side of the aircraft, and Bristow Helicopters on the opposite side.