Bell Boeing has revealed that it has secured orders for 36 Bell Boeing 609 civil tilt-rotor aircraft from 25 customers. Included in the list of those which have been publicly identified are Canadian Helicopter, Helikopter Services of Norway, Helitech of Australia, Petroleum Helicopters of the USA and Sheikh Sultan Maohammed Bin Al Shaikh Mejren of Dubai. While the orderbook hardens, Bell Boeing continues to make progress towards completion of the first of four prototypes in 1998, with the first flight expected in 1999, and certification by the Federal Aviation Administration and first customer delivery scheduled for 2001. Bell Boeing showed a full-scale mock-up of the 609 at Paris for the first time.
Source: Flight International
