Orsi confident of meeting tiltrotor delivery schedule
Despite delays that have slowed progress on the Bell/Agusta BA609, AgustaWestland CEO Guiseppe Orsi insisted the program remains on track for certification

Despite delays that have slowed progress on the Bell/Agusta BA609, AgustaWestland CEO Guiseppe Orsi insisted the program remains on track for certification and first customer deliveries in 2011.

Two prototypes have logged 285 hours in the air and another 250 hours conducting ground runs. One prototype is flying at Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth, Texas, and the other at AgustaWestland in northern Italy. A third prototype under construction at AgustaWestland is expected to fly later this year. It will spend the next two winters conducting icing tests, Orsi said.