Bell Helicopter has sold its stake in the BA609 civil tiltrotor program to partner AgustaWestland, which has renamed it the AW609.
AgustaWestland will now solely handle the AW609's flight testing and manufacture in Italy, though Bell will continue to provide components and engineering support.
Bell's divestment allows it to focus additional R&D resources on military tiltrotor technologies, including the V-22 and future U.S. Department of Defense projects.
AgustaWestland plans to accelerate the AW609's flight test regimen, aiming to bring to market the civil tiltrotor capable of carrying 6-9 passengers at up to 275 knots with vertical takeoff and landing.
After years of back-and-forth negotiations, Bell Helicopter has at last agreed to sell its stake in the BA609 civil tiltrotor program to partner AgustaWestland. As a result, the tiltrotor is being renamed the AW609.
Bell will continue to supply components and engineering support for the tiltrotor, but flight testing and manufacture will move solely to Italy.
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