European Tiltrotor Awaiting Go-Ahead

European helicopter companies have banded together to jointly develop their own tiltrotor aircraft -- also called a 'convertiplane' -- with European Commission assistance. Work on a machine with twice the passenger capacity of the Bell/Agusta Model 609 could get underway in earnest late this year.

Eurocopter, AgustaWestland, and some 20 other interested companies, have been cooperating on a European tiltrotor under a program they call '2 Gether.' The cost of bringing a new aircraft to market, in 2010 or so, is estimated at 1 billion to 1.5 billion euros-about $850 million to $1.275 billion U.S. at current rates of exchange.

They, thus, are seeking public sector assistance, and were awaiting an EC go-ahead just prior to NBAA 2000, according to Eurocopter. Technology validation could be accomplished by 2004, using a flight demonstrator that the partners would begin building in 2002. Flight testing could be completed in 2007, at which time series production would begin, with deliveries commencing in 2010.

The market for 10- to 30-seat tiltrotors could be as large as 1,300 aircraft from 2010 to 2030, Eurocopter says. The years 2020 to 2030 could also see demand for 50- to 70-passenger variants.

"This type of aircraft shows itself to best advantage when carrying about 20 passengers up to 500 nmi" Eurocopter says, implicitly refuting the BA609's nine-passenger capacity and range of about 750 nmi. First flight of the nine-seat BA609 is expected in mid-2001, with certification and first deliveries in late 2003/early 2004.

The Europeans say they'd offer a 'second-generation' aircraft -- with the American-designed BA609 and V-22 Osprey representing 'first-generation' tiltrotor technology.

"The European aviation industry," Eurocopter says, "is already the world leader in the field of helicopters." A new tiltrotor, which could be used as a transport and in SAR and other special roles, could help the European industry "maintain its position in this sector and claim a portion of a market with an estimated potential value of 900 billion euros"-$765 billion U.S.