Aircraft
Program Update: BA609
Bell and Agusta continue their development of the BA609 civil tiltrotor, a joint effort that has been ongoing for more than a decade.

Bell and Agusta continue their development of the BA609 civil tiltrotor, a joint effort that has been ongoing for more than a decade. However, the future of the program may hinge on the joint venture’s ability to control program costs, speed certification and deliveries, as well as the success of the first squadron of military tiltrotors about to deploy to Iraq.

Currently the BA609 ranks as one of the lengthiest aircraft development programs in business aviation history, taking its place alongside the Sino-Swearingen SJ30-2 (program announced in 1989; certification in 2005) and the Hawker 4000 (program announced in 1996; certification last year).

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