Test Pilots Say AW609 is Easy to Fly | Aviation International News

Test Pilots Say AW609 is Easy to Fly

AW609 test pilots say neither helicopter, nor fixed-wing pilots will find it hard to transition to flying a tiltrotor.

Mauro Moretti, CEO and general manager at AgustaWestland parent company Finmeccanica forecasts that the AW609 tiltrotor will provide a “a revolution in the sector, particularly in terms of opportunities for greater distance" for the offshore oil and gas industry. (Photo: Mariano Rosales/AIN)

By Mark Huber • Contributor

March 4, 2015

AgustaWestland AW609 test pilots Dan Wells and Paul Edwards insist that the civil tiltrotor is “easy to fly” for those transitioning from either helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft. The duo brought AW609 test ship number one to Heli-Expo from the manufacturer's 609 test facility in Arlington, Texas. Along the way they flew up to 23,000 feet and saw average fuel burns of 1,000 pph.

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