Tiltrotor test program moving ahead quietly in Italy and U.S.
The second prototype of the Bell/Agusta BA609 tiltrotor is now flying in airplane mode, after starting its flight test regimen in helicopter mode on Novemb

The second prototype of the Bell/Agusta BA609 tiltrotor is now flying in airplane mode, after starting its flight test regimen in helicopter mode on November 9 last year. It operates from Cameri, an Italian Air Force airfield near Milan.

The program has been gathering flight time relatively slowly. At last count, the 609 had logged only eight hours in the air. AgustaWestland said it had completed another seven hours in ground tests. Nacelle angles were tried throughout their entire range, from 95 to 0 degrees. Prototype No. 2 had reached 230 knots and an altitude of 9,000 feet.

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