Cutting-edge research takes an enormous amount of time and while the BA609 tiltrotor still shows signs of life, it may end up a solely AgustaWestland project. Sikorsky’s X2 compound helicopter hasn’t broken any speed records, yet, but it remains a fascinating program.
Bell/AgustaWestland
BA 609 Civil Tiltrotor
Now entering its 12th year of development, the Bell/Agusta BA609 program appears to be headed for a divorce. For nearly three years AgustaWestland CEO Giuseppe Orzi has made no secret that he is displeased with the glacial pace of the 609’s development and it now appears that negotiations are taking place that would either give AW a majority interest in, or outright ownership of, the program. Neither AW nor Bell will formally comment on the status of these negotiations, but last year Orzi told an Italian business conference that AW’s parent, Finmeccanica, had authorized him to negotiate for control of the program as a means to accelerate development and certification. Even under the most ideal outlook, airworthiness approval is unlikely until at least 2014.
