Aircraft
Leonardo Flies AW609 In Navy Aircraft Carrier Sea Trials
The aircraft has not yet received a civil type certificate
Leonardo AW609 tiltrotor operates on an Italian Navy aircraft carrier
A Leonardo AW609 tiltrotor operated on the Italian Navy aircraft carrier ITS Cavour during recent sea trials.

Leonardo has reported the completion of initial ship-based flight testing with its AW609 tiltrotor. The Italian aerospace and defense group today said that between April 3 and 12, its production-conforming AC4 aircraft relocated from the company’s Cascina Costa facility in northern Italy to Maristaer Grottaglie Naval Base to conduct trials with the ITS Cavour aircraft carrier.

The AW609, which is being developed for both military and civil applications, demonstrated approaches to the ship, as well as stable deck landing and touchdown capabilities. Leonardo is still working to achieve civil type certification, almost 12 years after it first applied for approval from the FAA.

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