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  • Tiltrotor News

    AgustaWestland and Airbus Helicopters have submitted next-generation fast rotorcraft demonstrator proposals as part of the European Union’s Clean Sky 2 program — the follow up to the Clean Sky public-private partnership research program.

    The European Union is providing €€1.8 billion ($2.45 billion) of funding, to be combined with at least €2.2 billion ($2.99 billion) of private capital, for Clean Sky 2 — which is envisioned as the natural continuation of the technological progress achieved under Clean Sky (set to conclude in 2017). Spanning 2014 to 2024, Clean Sky 2 is looking to develop a higher level of integration of the technologies created under the original program. Clean Sky 2 is split into three different vehicle streams: large passenger aircraft, regional aircraft, and fast rotorcraft — chosen to meet the perceived market opportunities of the future.



    The preliminary program outline for Clean Sky 2 said: “The helicopter architecture can be [considered] as nearly ideal for vertical flight, but restricts dramatically its lifting and propulsive efficiency in forward flight beyond 150 to 160 knots, when intrinsic aerodynamic limits of current designs are approached.” The report said non-conventional rotorcraft architectures that feature a fixed wing to unload the rotor at very high speeds offer an attractive alternative. “Research aimed at high-speed rotorcraft architectures showed that the tiltrotor aircraft, where prop-rotors can be tilted from vertical (for hovering) to horizontal for high-speed forward flight, and the compound aircraft, where one or several propellers provide forward thrust and enables a high horizontal speed, are viable solutions to overcome current helicopter limits.”

    As such, AgustaWestland has been tasked with developing a next generation civil tiltrotor demonstrator (based on its AW609), and Airbus Helicopters encouraged to build on the success of its X3 hybrid demonstrator.

    AgustaWestland’s proposal will be dedicated to validating an innovative tiltrotor configuration that goes beyond the current architectures of the aircraft type. The manufacturer is aiming for a cruise speed in excess of 300 knots, while reducing CO2 emissions by 17 percent, and cutting noise by 20 percent. The program outline requested a wing and airframe structure that hosts a tiltable engine nacelle (as the AW609 does today), but also includes a tiltable portion of the wing itself, allowing for greater performance and efficiency. The proposed program schedule would see a critical design review in 2016, followed by a first flight in 2019.

    Airbus Helicopters said its compound aircraft design, titled LifeRCraft, will have a cruise speed of up to 220 knots, and have lower noise and CO2 emissions than a helicopter. The central fuselage is optimized for high speed with low drag, and has access at the rear of the aircraft through a ramp. The wing has large flaps, with concept artwork showing two possible positions for its two propellers — fore and aft of the wings. The program schedule would see a critical design review in early 2017, with flight/operation demonstration activities taking place from 2019 to 2020.

    “Fast rotorcraft platforms will provide more speed, longer range, more ‘productivity’ . . . and will make new and more efficient and effective services to citizens,” the program outline stated. “It is expected that combining private industrial investments with substantial and focused public funding on R&T and technology validation, will permit [the] E.U. to maintain the current leadership in the sector at both integration and system level, even in this new emerging field of fast rotorcraft.”
    http://www.verticalmag.com/news/arti...d#.Uwy-3uOSwnk

  • #2
    AW609 TiltRotor Completes Envelope Expansion Flight Trials

    AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that it completed AW609 TiltRotor flight envelope expansion trials in December 2013, allowing the certification testing phase to commence as it makes progress towards Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) certification in 2017.

    This was achieved with the first two test aircraft which have now together flown almost 1,000 hours, with over a third having been flown in the last two years since the FAA type certification program was transferred to AgustaWestland Tilt-Rotor Company. The test activities were completed with extensive collaboration between the program’s main site in Arlington, Texas and support from the AgustaWestland Cascina Costa facility in Italy. With further investment and commitment by AgustaWestland the flying rate will increase again in 2014.



    The envelope expansion phase tested every aspect of the aircraft’s capabilities and has validated the flight envelope including the 25,000 feet service ceiling with a pressurised cabin and a maximum cruise speed of 275 knots, both of which were performed at the aircrafts maximum weight. The extensive flight testing also confirmed the benefit of a number of aerodynamic and performance improvement modifications developed by AgustaWestland since program acquisition, that deliver a 10% drag reduction, as well as the STOL capabilities of the AW609, the latter enabling an increased take-off weight.

    Other trials completed with the AW609 TiltRotor in 2013 included slope landings, run-on landings, aeroelastic stability testing and high altitude stability testing.

    The company continues to aggressively test new improved systems for the aircraft including new air data systems and inertial reference platform as well as working with potential suppliers for items such as improved air conditioning and new enlarged cabin door and many more changes, all aimed at enhancing the handling qualities, performance, comfort, versatility and affordability of the final product.

    AgustaWestland continues to progress with the necessary changes to the aircraft configuration and supply base to ensure the final product has both a competitive acquisition price as well as operating costs ensuring a true value proposition is available to customers adopting the unique capability enhancement associated with the tiltrotor class of aircraft.

    The program now enters a new phase of dedicated certification activity, building upon the testing conducted to date to demonstrate compliance to the type certification basis, the latest update of which was finalised with the FAA in late 2013 to incorporate the latest industry standard safety requirements. AgustaWestland is also working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to ensure that the regulatory framework is in place before the AW609 TiltRotor starts operating in the commercial market place in 2017.

    The third prototype, now being assembled at AgustaWestland’s Vergiate facility, will join the flight test program in 2014 in support of this certification flight testing. A fourth prototype will join the certification program at a later date to allow the new avionics suite to be flight tested, and enable type certification to be achieved as planned in 2017.

    The concurrent industrialisation phase of the AW609 is also taking shape across the AgustaWestland network and associated supply chain, with new equipment and tooling being acquired to guarantee existing orders can start to be fulfilled immediately after FAA type certification.

    Comment


    • #3
      AW609 TiltRotor to Perform First Ever Customer Demonstration Flights at Heli-Expo

      AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the AW609 TiltRotor has flown 1100nm (2000km) from its base in Arlington, Texas, to Long Beach Airport, California to perform the first ever customer demonstration flights at Heli-Expo 2014. The AW609 will highlight its game changing capabilities and performance that will soon be available to the commercial marketplace.

      During the ferry flight to Long Beach the prototype made a ground breaking flight, taking off vertically from Mesa, Arizona, and completing a vertical landing at Long Beach Airport, California, after flying more than 320nm (580km) in just 1hr and 35mins (with 15-20kt headwind).


      Daniele Romiti, AgustaWestland’s CEO said “No other civil vertical lift-capable aircraft is able to perform such a mission profile. This is just one example of the capabilities of this aircraft type and points to the capability of the tiltrotor to revolutionize commercial aviation.”

      After departure from Mesa the AW609 climbed to 20,000 feet, with an average climb rate of 1500 feet per minute, and cruised at 250 knots TAS enroute to Long Beach. In fixed wing cruise mode the vibration levels are very low, making the AW609 a great aircraft to fly in as a pilot or passenger.

      The AW609, with its pressurized cabin, can fly above the weather at up to 25,000ft, with comfort levels similar to that provided by today’s turboprop fixed wing aircraft, with the advantage of being able to land on any helipad capable of taking a helicopter of the same weight class. With a cruise speed typically twice that of a helicopter, the AW609 can dramatically reduce journey times and fly up to 750 nm and will provide operators with new capabilities and opportunities.

      While at Heli-Expo, AgustaWestland Tilt-Rotor Company has been permitted to allow a number of pilots to experience the unique capabilities of the AW609 and test the user-friendly handling of this tiltrotor, made possible by the digital fly-by-wire flight control system.

      The AW609, the world’s first commercial tiltrotor, is on schedule to achieve FAA civil certification in 2017.

      Comment


      • #4
        AgustaWestland Demonstrates AW609 to Chevron

        AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, announced today that it has completed the first customer demonstration flight of the AW609 to Chevron on February 25th The round trip flight began in Angels Stadium in Anaheim and continued off the coast of Southern California.

        Flying Second-in-Command was Chevron pilot Patrick Nevin, who currently flies AW139s in support of offshore oil and gas operations.

        The demonstration flight began with a high performance vertical take-off before converting into airplane mode. During the flight, the aircraft flew at speeds up to 220 kts demonstrating its high speed cruise capability. The maximum cruise speed of the AW609 is 275 kts.



        Upon a steep approach landing, visibility was in fact improved due to the rear-facing nacelles and the position of the aircraft at 10 degrees nose low. The flight lasted approximately 25 minutes and allowed Niven a full flight experience in both airplane and helicopter modes.

        “The avionics and controls of the AW609 resemble that of a traditional helicopter and therefore are familiar and easily mastered by helicopter pilots,” Niven said. “As a pilot supporting offshore oil and gas operations, it is clear to me that the AW609 is uniquely positioned to achieve both the necessary speed and distance to reach deepwater oil rigs.”

        “Today’s first customer demonstration flight of the AW609 is evidence of AgustaWestland’s intense commitment and progress towards FAA certification,” said Daniele Romiti, CEO. “We are excited to have captivated the interest of offshore oil and gas pilots and maintain that the AW609, when certified, will serve untapped missions and operations around the world.”

        Rockwell Collins will provide a fully integrated cockpit for the AW609 TiltRotor based on its Pro Line Fusion system, allowing AgustaWestland to adopt the very latest in commercial aircraft cockpit technologies, including 14 inch (35.5 cm) touch screen displays, integrated flight management systems with satellite based navigation, synthetic and enhanced vision systems and Head-Up-Display interfaces; all of which will be integrated with the aircraft’s own avionics management systems. This cockpit suite will provide the crew with increased situational awareness and will reduce pilot workload to permit single pilot IFR operations of the AW609 TiltRotor.

        The first two test aircraft have now together flown almost 1,000 hours, with over a third having been flown in the last two years since the FAA type certification program was transferred to AgustaWestland Tilt-Rotor Company.

        The company continues to aggressively test new improved systems for the aircraft including new air data systems and inertial reference platform as well as working with potential suppliers for items such as improved air conditioning and new enlarged cabin door and many more changes, all aimed at enhancing the handling qualities, performance, comfort, versatility and affordability of the final product.

        AgustaWestland continues to progress with the necessary changes to the aircraft configuration and supply base to ensure the final product has both a competitive acquisition price as well as operating costs ensuring a true value proposition is available to customers adopting the unique capability enhancement associated with the tiltrotor class of aircraft.

        The program now enters a new phase of dedicated certification activity, building upon the testing conducted to date to demonstrate compliance to the type certification basis, the latest update of which was finalised with the FAA in late 2013 to incorporate the latest industry standard safety requirements. AgustaWestland is also working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to ensure that the regulatory framework is in place before the AW609 TiltRotor starts operating in the commercial market place in 2017.

        The third prototype, now being assembled at AgustaWestland’s Vergiate facility, will join the flight test program in 2014 in support of this certification flight testing. A fourth prototype will join the certification program at a later date to allow the new avionics suite to be flight tested, and enable type certification to be achieved as planned in 2017.

        The concurrent industrialisation phase of the AW609 is also taking shape across the AgustaWestland network and associated supply chain, with new equipment and tooling being acquired to guarantee existing orders can start to be fulfilled immediately after FAA type certification.

        Comment


        • #5
          Japan Adamant About Purchasing V-22's

          Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera arrived at the Pentagon on Thursday in a gleaming MV-22 Osprey, the revolutionary, though controversial, tilt-rotor aircraft that can take off like a helicopter but fly like an airplane.

          The point was plain — If I’m flying in it, Onodera seemed to say, it’s safe.



          Gen. John M. Paxton Jr., assistant commandant of the US Marine Corps, and Kenichiro Sasae, Japanese ambassador to the United States, watch outside the Pentagon on Thursday 10th July 2014 as Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera departs in a Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey

          The visual was relevant because Japan wants to buy the aircraft as it expands its military in the face of a rising China. Japanese officials said Thursday that they would budget money to buy them in the fiscal 2015 budget. By 2018, Tokyo wants 17 of them, offering them more speed and range than traditional helicopters.

          The Osprey’s history of deadly crashes has complicated matters in Japan, however. The Marine Corps first deployed the aircraft there in 2012 amid protests by tens of thousands of people, and concerns remain. Even a six-inch-long metal rod falling off an Osprey into the ocean near Okinawa and doing no harm in June received media attention, given the circumstances.

          The Osprey purchases did not come up during a news conference Friday at the Pentagon with Onodera and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. But it’s part of a broader shift in Japanese defense strategy toward “collective self-defense” after decades of “internal self-defense.” In addition to the Ospreys, Japan plans to buy at least 42 F-35A Joint Strike Fighter jets to replace its decades-old F-4EJ Kai Phantoms, several Global Hawk surveillance drones and other equipment.

          It’s the Ospreys, though, that seem to get the bulk of the attention. And that’s in part because of Japan’s history with other American aircraft. Many are still upset by an Aug. 13, 2004, CH-53D helicopter crash on an occupied building at Okinawa International University in which U.S. Marines cordoned off Japanese authorities for seven days. No civilians were injured in the crash, but rallies against U.S. aviation have continued there ever since, including a “die-in” protest last summer on its ninth anniversary.

          The Osprey, meanwhile, has become a common sight in the U.S. military. It was deployed to Iraq from 2007 to 2009, and has been in Afghanistan since. It also has been added to President Obama’s fleet of aircraft, Marine Corps Helicopter Squadron One, although it is used to fly support missions, not the president.

          Air Force Special Operations Command also flies a variant of the Osprey, the CV-22, and the Navy signed a $6.5 billion deal in June with the Osprey’s makers, Textron Inc.’s Bell Helicopter and Boeing Co., to buy 99 of the aircraft.
          http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/c...prey-aircraft/

          Comment


          • #6
            Rolls-Royce Upgrade V-22 Engines

            Flight tests have validated a new engine upgrade for Rolls-Royce AE 1107C engines powering Bell-Boeing V-22 aircraft, maximizing “hot and high” capability up to 6,000 feet of altitude and 95 degrees F.

            The enhanced capability is part of a series of upgrades that will boost engine power 17 percent for the aircraft, as Rolls-Royce continues to add innovations to the AE 1107C. The flight tests were conducted in a Bell Boeing V-22 test aircraft, and completed this summer in the western United States.



            The Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey will now incorporate a 17% boost in engine power

            Rolls-Royce, which was named a "Superior Supplier" by the U.S. Navy this year, has incorporated the “hot and high” improvements at company expense through a MissionCare contract with the Navy. MissionCare, a Rolls-Royce designed package of services, incentivizes the company to design technology and affordability improvements to benefit the customer. Rolls-Royce has invested $90 million in capability and reliability improvements for the AE 1107C engine since 2009, reducing the maintenance cost per flight hour by 34 percent.

            Tom Hartmann, Rolls-Royce, senior vice president of customer business, said, “Rolls-Royce works continuously to develop improvements for the customer, focusing on enhancing capabilities and reducing costs. The AE 1107C engine is combat-proven and dependable – a powerplant that V-22 pilots and crew can rely on to complete their mission and return to base safely.”

            Vince Tobin, Bell Helicopter’s vice president and program director for the Bell-Boeing V-22, said “We are always grateful to see this type of innovation and support from our suppliers with the V-22 program. The team constantly seeks for ways to improve the capabilities we deliver to the fleet. We appreciate it when we can deliver enhanced performance that helps the customer maximize their own resources.”

            The Navy recognized Rolls-Royce improvements for the AE 1107C with a Commander's Award from the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in 2011. The propulsion team developed, qualified, tested and fielded upgraded engines in only seven months. The improvements led to the doubling of Time on Wing in only one year. The AE 1107C has the potential to increase its power rating to over 8,000 shaft horsepower by applying the experience and component design technology currently within the AE product family. In ground tests, the engine has demonstrated the capability to produce over 8,800 shaft horsepower.

            Rolls-Royce has delivered more than 730 AE 1107C engines and is currently testing the MT7, a naval variant of the engine which has been selected for the U.S. Navy’s Ship to Shore Connector. Both engines are part of the AE family of engines, which has topped 61 million flight hours.
            http://www.verticalmag.com/news/arti...otandhighpaces

            Comment


            • #7
              Ospreys Participate in Japan Exercise Amid Protests

              Two US Marine Corps MV-22 Ospres [participated in a tsunami disaster drill in Japan Sunday October 19th, despite protests from some who question the safety of the tilt-rotor aircraft.

              It was the first time that the combat troop carrier has been used in a disaster drill organised by a Japanese community. The aircraft was deployed in a disaster drill at the US Yokota airbase in Tokyo reports said.

              The two aircraft flew from the US Marine base at Iwakuni in western Japan to the coastal town of Shirahama on the Kii peninsula south of Osaka Sunday morning.



              Two MV-22 Ospreys from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, prepare to refuel at Yokota Air Base near Tokyo

              They transported a medical team and eight people playing the part of the injured as well as emergency supplies to a Japanese naval helicopter-carrying destroyer offshore, media reports said.

              More than 500 people, including protesters opposed to the presence of Ospreys in Japan, gathered near the airport in Shirahama. "Ospreys have been called defective aircraft. How can we accept them when there is the possibility of them crashing?" a resident told the TBS television network.

              Some 6,400 people - 3,200 citizens as well as local government members, firefighters and Japanese and US troops - took part in the drill designed to test readiness against a massive earthquake and tsunami off the Pacific coast.

              A total of 26 aircraft were deployed in the operation in Wakayama prefecture, media reports said.

              "We asked everybody, even the US forces, to join us because we need to save the lives of as many people as possible," Wakayama Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka told a news conference, adding that he had no objections to the use of Ospreys.

              The presence of US Marine Ospreys has sparked protests from Japanese since they first arrived in the country in July 2012. There are now reported to be two dozen Ospreys in Japan.

              The Osprey is a hybrid aircraft with rotors that allow it to take off like a helicopter and engines that can tilt forward, enabling it to fly like an aeroplane at greater speed than a helicopter.

              The aircraft was plagued with problems in its early years in the 1990s. But US officials say the technical glitches have been solved and the US Marine Corps says it has proven invaluable.
              http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/us...-amid-protests

              Comment


              • #8


                Bristow Signs Up for Civil Tiltrotor

                Bristow Group, one of the world's largest offshore helicopter operators, has signed-up to the AW609 civilian tiltrotor, confirming a "development agreement" that will help further define the aircraft, designed to take off like a helicopter and transition into fast forward flight. The move is the first major commitment by a commercial operator towards the project, and is likely to result in the use of the tiltrotor in offshore operations.​


                Bristow Group has committed to the AW609 and is to take the type offshore

                At the Heli-Expo show in Orlando, Florida, Bristow said it has signed and agreement with with UK low-cost airline Eastern Airways to use tiltrotors for commercial service, while Bristow plans to use the AW609 in a variety of roles including oil rig transport and air medical service.

                "Today you see before you the future of point-to-point transportation in hostile environments," said Jonathan Baliff, Bristow President and CEO, at the AgustaWestland exhibit while standing in front of the AW609. With its partnership with Eastern Airways, he said, "Bristow is no longer just a helicopter company; we are a point-to-point logistics company."

                Nearly 60 customers have placed orders for the AW609, which began life as a joint project between Agusta and Bell. Bell is no longer involved in the project, and the development timeline of the aircraft has stretched further and further as flight tests continue. Now, AgustaWestland plans to move flight testing from Italy to the United State, and says the the AW609 will be built in Philadelphia.

                To-date, two AW609 prototypes have logged 1,100 hours. It is projected to have a cruise speed of 260 knots, a ceiling of 25,000 feet and a range of 750 nm.

                Bristow have not disclosed how many AW609 they plan to buy, but the number is expected to be significant given the company's new role in the program, which it says includes addressing regulatory issues of tiltrotors, operations, support and the aircraft's commercial introduction.
                http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/he...trotor-program

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