Aircraft
Production-conforming AW609 Expected To Fly Soon
The fifth prototype in Leonardo’s AW609 tiltrotor program is nearing final completion at the airframer’s U.S. assembly facility in Philadelphia.
Leonardo continues to rack up flight test hours in its AW609 prototypes, with P3 seen here at the company's facility in Philadelphia. P5, the first production-conforming model, is currently under assembly at this facility and is planned to fly later this year. (Photo: Ian Whelan/AIN)
Leonardo continues to rack up flight test hours in its AW609 prototypes, with P3 seen here at the company's facility in Philadelphia. P5, the first production-conforming model, is currently under assembly at this facility and is planned to fly later this year. (Photo: Ian Whelan/AIN)

The first production model in Leonardo’s AW609 tiltrotor program is nearing final completion at the airframer’s U.S. assembly facility in Philadelphia, and it is expected to make its first flight later this summer. During a visit to the site last week by AIN, P5, the first production-conforming aircraft, was seen with its wing mated to the fuselage, while the sixth airframe—which is slated to be the first delivery aircraft, destined for launch customer Bristow—sat behind it awaiting wing attachment.