Part plane, part helicopter, AgustaWestland’s hair-rising Tilt-rotor aircraft is a true masterpiece, designed to take off like a chopper and to fly smoothly like a plane. After years spent developing helicopters for military use, the Anglo-Italian aircraft maker has decided to enter the civilian market with this executive version of their AW609 TiltRotor.
Designed to carry up to nine passengers in a comfortable pressurized cabin, this amazing little plane is a lot faster than a regular helicopter and can travel longer distances without stopping. This will significantly reduce the time spent traveling from one point to the other, especially because you can take off and land almost everywhere.
AgustaWestland announced that their TiltRotor is the quickest way to travel over distances between 57 and 575 miles, with a cruising range of up to 750 miles. In horizontal flight, the twin engine turboprop plane is able to reach top speeds of up to 275 miles, which is more than impressive.
Inside the modern cockpit, the AW609 TiltRotor will have a two-pilot crew, with fly-by-wire controls and Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion Avionics.
The aircraft is expected to cost around $24 million and AgustaWestland announced that they have around 60 of these amazing little planes already ordered. The first deliveries are expected to start in 2017 though.
[RobbReport]
