Rotorcraft
Enhancements Boost Performance of AW609 Tiltrotor
AgustaWestland is incorporating several aerodynamic improvements into the AW609 tiltrotor, including a modified vertical tail fin, sleeker engine exhaust nozzles and changes to the prop-rotor spinner cones. The second AW609 prototype has been flying with the new vertical tail fin (shown in photo) from the company’s Cascina Costa, Italy flight test facility since July 25. (Photo: AgustaWestland)
AgustaWestland is incorporating several aerodynamic improvements into the AW609 tiltrotor, including a modified vertical tail fin, sleeker engine exhaust nozzles and changes to the prop-rotor spinner cones. The second AW609 prototype has been flying with the new vertical tail fin (shown in photo) from the company’s Cascina Costa, Italy flight test facility since July 25. (Photo: AgustaWestland)

AgustaWestland is flight-testing several aerodynamic improvements that promise to boost the performance of its AW609 tiltrotor. In fact, these modifications reduce the tiltrotor’s drag by about 10 percent and deliver a “significant” weight reduction, resulting in the performance increases. The company is also upgrading the AW609’s turboprop engines, avionics and flight-control system.