About
Businesses
Leadership
Company
Our Locations
News
News Releases
Textron Corporate
Textron Aviation
Bell
Textron Systems
Industrial
Textron eAviation
Email Alerts
Media Resources
Media Contacts
Photo & Logo Request
Investors
Stock Information
Events & Presentations
Financial Highlights
Financial Reports
Financial Summary
Earnings Releases
SEC Filings
Dividends
Interactive Analyst Center
Corporate Governance
Corporate Leadership
Board of Directors
Frequently Asked Questions
Committee Charters
Committee Compositions
Director Independence
Investor Resources
Annual Report & Proxy Materials
Frequently Asked Questions
Analyst Coverage
Cost Basis Calculator
Fact Books
Email Alerts
RSS
Corporate Responsibility
IN THE COMMUNITY
CHARITABLE GIVING
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY REPORT
ETHICS & COMPLIANCE
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY
Careers
Contact Us
About
Businesses
Leadership
Company
Our Locations
News
News Releases
Textron Corporate
Textron Aviation
Bell
Textron Systems
Industrial
Textron eAviation
Email Alerts
Media Resources
Media Contacts
Photo & Logo Request
Investors
Stock Information
Events & Presentations
Financial Highlights
Financial Reports
Financial Summary
Earnings Releases
SEC Filings
Dividends
Interactive Analyst Center
Corporate Governance
Corporate Leadership
Board of Directors
Frequently Asked Questions
Committee Charters
Committee Compositions
Director Independence
Investor Resources
Annual Report & Proxy Materials
Frequently Asked Questions
Analyst Coverage
Cost Basis Calculator
Fact Books
Email Alerts
RSS
Corporate Responsibility
IN THE COMMUNITY
CHARITABLE GIVING
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY REPORT
ETHICS & COMPLIANCE
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY
Careers
Contact Us
Home
Home
»
News
»
News Releases
»
Press Release Details
Home
Home
>
News
>
News Releases
>
Press Release Details
About
Businesses
Leadership
Company
Our Locations
News
News Releases
Textron Corporate
Textron Aviation
Bell
Textron Systems
Industrial
Textron eAviation
Email Alerts
Media Resources
Media Contacts
Photo & Logo Request
Investors
Stock Information
Events & Presentations
Financial Highlights
Financial Reports
Financial Summary
Earnings Releases
SEC Filings
Dividends
Interactive Analyst Center
Corporate Governance
Corporate Leadership
Board of Directors
Frequently Asked Questions
Committee Charters
Committee Compositions
Director Independence
Investor Resources
Annual Report & Proxy Materials
Frequently Asked Questions
Analyst Coverage
Cost Basis Calculator
Fact Books
Email Alerts
RSS
Corporate Responsibility
IN THE COMMUNITY
CHARITABLE GIVING
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY REPORT
ETHICS & COMPLIANCE
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY
Careers
Contact Us
Textron's Bell Unit Achieves First Flight of Commercial Tiltrotor
March 10, 2003
Download this Press Release
PDF Format (opens in new window)
Providence, Rhode Island - March 10, 2003 -
Further validating the versatility of its tiltrotor technology, Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) today announced a major milestone in the development of the world's first commercial tiltrotor aircraft manufactured by its Bell Helicopter unit and Agusta, an AgustaWestland company. The Bell/Agusta Aerospace 609 (BA609) achieved its maiden flight Friday at Bell's Flight Research Center in Arlington, Texas.
The BA609 hovered at an altitude of 50 feet, performed left and right peddle turns, both forward and aft flight maneuvers, four take-offs and landings, nacelle position changes and
stability testing
for 36 minutes before setting down. The first flight follows seven weeks of ground runs and taxi testing for the BA609 conducted at the Center.
"The first flight of the BA609 is truly an historic occasion. It marks the first flight of an aircraft that will be available to the public that can not only fly with the high speed and
range
of an airplane, but can take-off, hover and land with the versatility of a helicopter," said Bell Helicopter Chairman and CEO John Murphey. "Until now, commercial helicopters were limited to a top speed of about 150 knots. The BA609 smashes through that barrier with a top speed approaching 300 knots. This achievement is as remarkable as when the Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier over 50 years ago," he added.
"With nearly 70 advance orders from customers around the world, there is no doubt the BA609 will revolutionize air transportation," added AgustaWestland's CEO Amedeo Caporaletti.
With its rotors in the vertical position, the tiltrotor is able to take-off, land and hover like a traditional helicopter. When the rotors are tilted forward to the horizontal position, the aircraft is able to fly similar to a turboprop fixed wing airplane. The transition from helicopter mode to airplane mode takes 20 seconds, as does the transition from airplane mode to helicopter mode.
The BA609 will be used in a wide variety of commercial and civil operations ranging from off-shore oil exploration to corporate transport, emergency medical service and small air carrier operations. It seats six to nine passengers and is expected to be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2007, with first deliveries to begin immediately following.
Bell/Agusta will produce a total of four prototype tiltrotor aircraft for flight-testing. Final assembly for production aircraft will take place at Bell's Amarillo, Texas, facility with another assembly line to be established at the Agusta plant in Italy.
"The first flight was flawless, the 609 performed exactly as we knew it would," explained Bell/Agusta Senior Flight Test Pilot Roy Hopkins who is the world's high time tiltrotor pilot with over 1,000 flight hours in the V-22 Osprey and XV-15 tiltrotor aircraft. Bell test pilot Dwayne Williams flew as co-pilot.
Headquarters for the Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company (www.bellagusta.com) is located at Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas.
AgustaWestland (www.agustawestland.com), a Finmeccanica and GKN Company, with primary operations in Cascina Costa, Italy, and Yeovil, United Kingdom, is a commercial enterprise, offering an unrivaled range of products designed to satisfy the most diverse requirements of civil and military customers. With turnover in 2001 exceeding $2.5 billion, AgustaWestland is committed to delivering outstanding products and services in globally competitive markets.
Bell Helicopter is a $1.6 billion, leading producer of commercial and military helicopters, and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global
workforce
of over 7,500 employees serves customers flying Bell aircraft in over 120 countries.
Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) is an $11 billion multi-industry company with 49,000 employees in 40 countries. The company leverages its global network of businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services in industries such as aircraft, fastening systems, industrial products and components and finance. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others. More information is available at
www.textron.com
.
Quick Links
Investor FAQs
Analysts Coverage
Connect with Textron IR
David Rosenberg, Vice President, Investor Relations
(401) 457-2288
Kyle Williams, Manager, Investor Relations
(401) 457-2288
Email Alert
Enter your Email
*
Mailing Lists
*
Press Release
SEC Filing
Presentation
Event
EOD Stock Quote
Enter the code shown above.
Back to top
Follow Us On
About
|
News
|
Investors
|
Corporate Responsibility
|
Careers
|
Contact Us
|
Employees
|
Suppliers
© 2004-2021 Textron Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Legal
CA Transparency in Supply Chains Act
Site Map
Powered By Q4 Inc.
5.119.0.1