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The fuselage is aluminium with skin and wing formed of composites. The fuselage skin incorporates graphite stringers and Toray composites, as do the wing and nacelles.

The T tail configuration has conventional elevators and no rudder. The horizontal tailplane can be raised above the rotor wake to minimise pitching at transition phase.

Size of wing determined by fuel requirement vs centre of gravity and safety. It has two-segment, trailing edge flaperons.

Titanium/composites cross shafts keep both proprotors turning in event of single engine failure. A manual screw jack facility enables the proprotors to be tilted into helicopter mode if cross shafts fail.

Type variants

Variant	Launch/First flight	Production end
Leonardo AW609	1997 / 2003		Production: 0 (2025) FAA TIA flights began in early 2025 (formally confirmed by FlightGlobal March 2025) with AC5 as primary TIA aircraft; AC6 was still completing pre-flight modifications ahead of its first flight. As of December 2025, Vertical Mag reported the AW609 ha [high]. Light utility tiltrotor, formerly known as BA609 due to prior Boeing influence.

View full news archive for the Leonardo AW609.

See recent updates (latest 13/07/2026)

Operations data

For detailed information about current charter operators, maintenance and training providers, and completions services for this aircraft, please consult our sister publication Business Air News: AgustaWestland AW609 TiltRotor