Agusta and Bell Helicopter Textron are putting together a wide ranging strategic joint venture covering the two companies' involvement in the Bell 609 civil tiltrotor and a new medium twin-turbine transport helicopter called the Agusta 139.
The joint venture, which still requires approval by parent companies Textron and Finmeccanica, will involve mutual component manufacture and final assembly. Bell will own a majority in the new company, which will be responsible for worldwide marketing of the aircraft, now renamed the BA609 and the AB139 respectively.
The companies have co-operated since the 1950s, an alliance which has seen Agusta produce Bell products under licence.
Bell will carry out final assembly of the AB139 for sales in North America, while Agusta will perform final assembly of the BA609 for sales in Europe "and other parts of the world", says Bell. Agusta will become a risk-sharing partner in the 609, investing and participating in the aircraft's development, but will retain sole responsibility for the development of the AB139 through certification to production.
According to Agusta president Amedeo Caporaletti, the venture will have "a positive effect" on talks to merge the Italian company with GKN Westland, adding tiltrotor technology to Agusta's portfolio. "We enjoy the support of Westland in this venture decision," he says.
The transatlantic alliance promises an eventual wider co-operation. Together, the companies would boast a range comparable in breadth to that of Eurocopter.
Caporaletti says Agusta's share in the BA609 will include work on the gearboxes, tail and ailerons, as well as final assembly.
Bell already has 68 commitments from more than 40 customers for BA609s, which will be the world's first production civil tiltrotor. The joint venture is "- the first time tiltrotor technology moves outside the USA", says Bell chairman Terry Stinson, who points out that the venture builds on 46 years of cooperation between the two companies.
The AB139 is being designed as a 6t, 12-15 passenger helicopter with retractable undercarriage, to be powered by twin 1,380kW (1,850shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67Cs - the same powerplants used on the 609 - driving a five-blade main rotor. It will have Honeywell Primus Epic avionics. Cruise speed is 160kt (295km/h) and maximum range is 730km (395nm).
Source: Flight International
