Leonardo-Finmeccanica resumes AW609 flight tests

ROME, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Leonardo-Finmeccanica has resumed flight tests of its AW609 tilt-rotor aircraft, an effort that was halted after a fatal prototype crash in 2015.

The AW609 prototype touched down in Philadelphia Wednesday after a flight from Texas, the company said in a statement Thursday.

With industrialization underway, Leonardo has expanded the AW609 program to include the Philadelphia facility.

The involvement of that site represents the company's anticipated progression toward assembly and certification with the Federal Aviation Administration.

The certification is expected to come in 2018, Leonardo said.

Facilities in Italy, the United Kingdom and Poland will continue to play critical production roles in the program.

Flight testing activities in Philadelphia will continue upon the arrival of an AW609 that was recently ground tested and assembled in Italy.

Another AW609 is being assembled in Philadelphia with plans for that aircraft to enter the test fleet next year, Leonardo said.