The AW609 TiltRotor tiltrotor program will soon enter the ice testing phase after the recent ground and in-flight tests, preliminary to the continuation of the American FAA certification activities, foreseen in the 2018.
The third prototype, based at the Leonardo plant in Philadelphia, carried out multiple ground tests for several weeks and, more recently, flight activities that allowed the verification of the regular functioning of the avionics and all systems. The aircraft has already carried out basic stationary flight maneuvers along predefined routes at the airport, which ended with vertical landings. Over the next few flights, the third prototype will rise to 4000 feet (about 1220 m) by taking short take-offs and landings on the runway.
The tiltrotor will carry out tests in the presence of ice in Marquette, Michigan, by this winter. The tests are designed to allow the AW609 to fly in such weather conditions and to reach operating standards currently not foreseen for any other commercial aircraft.
The fourth AW609 prototype is located in the assembly line in Philadelphia and will also be used to facilitate the transition to construction on the same line as the first production aircraft, planned in the 2018.
