BA609 TILTROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM

Bell Helicopter Textron Inc, in a partnership with Agusta-Westland Helicopters called the Bell Agusta Aircraft Company, is working to design, manufacture, develop, and certify the world's first tiltrotor aircraft, called the BA609, for civil certification. With over 50 years of experience in helicopter and tiltrotor experience, Bell has developed drive system technology to a level consistent with the reliability required for tiltrotor aircraft. The paper provides an overview of the BA609 drive system with a description of its components, features, monitoring systems, and diagnostic systems. Design and operational requirements having some of the most significant impact on the design are discussed, along with their methods of compliance. These include requirements for engine turbine burst, continued operation with the failure of an engine, 30-minute operation with a lubrication system failure, continued operation with a cooling fan failure, weight minimization, and efficiency maximization. Manufacturing and test highlights are provided, including information on test results to date.