Tilt Rotors
Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey
ICAO: V22
Overview
The Bell Agusta BA609, later known as the AW609, is a tiltrotor aircraft designed for civil markets. Developed to blend vertical takeoff capability with fixed-wing cruise performance, it first flew in the early 2000s. The program has experienced extended development timelines.
Live Fleet Activity (B609)
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Specifications
Units
- Engine
- 2 × Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67A
- Engine type
- Turboshaft
- Power
- 2 × 1,940 shp · 1,447 kW
- Avionics
- Rockwell Collins Pro-line 21
- Wing tips
- No winglets
- Seats
- 9 economy · 6 business
- Crew
- —
- Cabin width
- 5 ft 0 in · 1.52 m
- Cabin height
- 4 ft 8 in · 1.42 m
- Cabin length
- 17 ft 6 in · 5.33 m
- Exterior length
- 43 ft 8 in · 13.30 m
- Tail height
- 14 ft 9 in · 4.50 m
- Fuselage diameter
- 5 ft 3 in · 1.60 m
- Wing span
- 60 ft 0 in · 18.30 m
- Baggage volume
- 49 ft³ · 1.4 m³
- Gross weight
- —
- Empty weight
- —
- Max takeoff weight
- 16,800 lb · 7,600 kg
- Max landing weight
- —
- Max payload
- 5,500 lb · 2,500 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 370 gal · 1,400 L · 1,100 kg (Jet A)
- Max cruise speed
- 275 kt · 316 mph · 509 km/h
- Maximum speed
- —
- Cruise speed
- —
- Approach speed
- —
- Range
- 1,000 nm · 1,150 mi · 1,850 km
- Fuel burn
- 2.00 nm/gal · 0.98 km/L
- Ceiling
- 25,000 ft · 7,600 m
- Rate of climb
- 1,500 ft/min · 8 m/s
- Takeoff distance
- —
- Landing distance
- —
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Live fleet activity details
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Operational Context
Bell Agusta BA609 — civil tiltrotor aircraft
The BA609 first flew in 2003 as a joint venture between Bell and Agusta. It features rotating nacelles that allow vertical takeoff and landing before transitioning to forward flight as a turboprop airplane. The design aims to offer greater speed and range than conventional helicopters.
Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67A turboshaft engines producing approximately 1,940 shaft horsepower each, the BA609 is projected to cruise at around 275 knots (510 km/h). Maximum takeoff weight exceeds 16,000 pounds (7,260 kg). The cabin is designed for up to nine occupants.
The tiltrotor concept targets executive transport and emergency services. Certification efforts have continued for more than a decade. The BA609 represents one of the first attempts to introduce tiltrotor technology to the civil market.
Sources and references used for research and fact-checking.