Page 44 - World Airnews Magazine May 2020 Edition
P. 44

HELICOPTERS



                                  THE HALF-PLANE,


                                  HALF-HELICOPTER




                                                                                         By Thomas Pallini







               ertical take-off and land aircraft



       V have proven to be the future of
        urban air mobility with companies like Uber
        and Blade offering intra-city helicopter



        flights that minimize commute times and
        maximize convenience.
         While helicopters are the primary form of
        transport for urban air mobility, one company
        is on the verge of receiving certification for



        a never-before-seen type of civilian aircraft

        that now only has the capability of upending

        the mode of transportation altogether.
         Italian aerospace and defence manufactur-
        er Leonardo Company, whose products in-
        clude the iconic AgustaWestland helicopters,



        is nearing the end of the certification process



        for its AW609 tilt rotor aircraft. The first

        commercial aircraft of its kind, the AW609
        takes technology currently found on military

        aircraft with no widespread civilian use.
         The AW609 merges the best features of a

        helicopter and airplane. The vertical take-  The aircraft's rotors can be adjusted for   air mobility in the way that the famed Con-



        off and land capabilities enable the aircraft   vertical take-off and land capabilities to access   corde reshaped transatlantic travel, giving






        to land at heliports close to downtown   heliports in even the most congested or com-  airline shuttles and high-speed rails a run
        areas such as in New York City and Wash-  plex airspace such as New York or Washington.  for their money.
        ington, DC or on top of buildings where    The larger V-22 Osprey has proven that    Powering the aircraft are two massive,

        allowed. Once airborne, the AW609 can   tilt rotors can land on current helipads in   rotatable Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-


        transform into a standard airplane by ad-  Lower Manhattan as seen when the presi-  67A engines.


        justing the direction of its rotors and travel   dent and his fleet of helicopters and VTOLs   Capable of speeds over 300 miles per


        at greater speeds and higher altitudes than   come to New York City.   hour, the AW609 can fly its maximum


        a helicopter.                        US Marine Corps V-22 Osprey's supporting   distance of 700 nautical miles in around 2



         Offering the best of each type of aircraft in   the president's travel frequently land at the   hours and 30 minutes, test runs have shown.

        terms of range, versatility, and capacity gives   Wall St. Heliport, an 11-minute walk from    Though slower than a traditional jetliner


        the AW609 an advantage unmatched by even   the New York Stock Exchange, setting the   on longer flights, the aircraft makes up for





        the swiftest helicopter or nimblest airplane.   stage for intercity VTOL travel.  it by offering the convenience factor of

         Take a look at the future of urban air mo-  A nimble and compact sibling of the V-22,   departing from and arriving into the heart

        bility. Tilt rotor aircraft have been primarily   the AW609 is similarly capable of the task   of any city as opposed to a distant airport.


        associated with the military, specifically   meaning that executives can avoid the trip   The aircraft also has advantages over


        with the V-22 Osprey in service with the   to Teterboro, LaGuardia, or JFK airports and   traditional helicopters that include de-ic-

        US military.                       head to the heliport instead for travel up   ing capabilities and pressurization that


         While the military version of the aircraft   and down the East Coast.  allow for a flight in the upper altitudes



        was being developed, ideas for a commer-   After departing vertically from a heliport,   above the weather.



        cial variant were also in the world with Bell   the AW609 can adjust its rotors to fly like    Unlike most corporate jets, the AW609


        and Boeing jointly starting the project just   a normal airplane at altitudes as high as   can fly under visual flight rules when



        before the turn of the century.    25,000 feet with a normal range of around   weather permits that allow for more direct
         The project eventually was taken over by   700 nautical miles.        routings and flexibility in flight planning




        AgustaWestland, now known as Leonardo    Cities pairs in that range include New   An advanced avionics system also means

        Helicopters, and given the designation of   York-Chicago, Tokyo-Seoul, and San   the aircraft can operate in poor weather


        the AW609.                         Francisco-Seattle, with the aircraft capable   conditions and on instrument flight plans




          The AW609's first flight was in 2003, 14   of customization for an additional 300   for longer hauls.





        years after the V-22. The nine-seat aircraft   nautical miles.          The AW609 is the latest in Leonardo He-


        was designed smaller with a focus on ver-  The possibility of connecting two down-  licopters’ brand of AgustaWestland aircraft



        satility and VIP transport, unlike the bulky   towns via heliports with the speed of an   that are used the world over in both civilian
        combat-focused military variant.   airplane has the ability to reshape urban   and military settings. Q


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