Boeing’s Developing Tilt-Rotor Aircraft Has Garnered 29 Orders

The Bell-Boeing joint venture has announced a successful transfer of military technology to civilian use.

In an announcement Sunday at the Paris Air Show, the American companies said the tilt-rotor aircraft that can take off like a helicopter and fly like a plane has secured 29 firm orders from 21 customers, ranging from governments to petroleum companies spanning the globe. The value of the orders wasn’t announced, but the aircraft are priced between $8 million and $10 million each.

Delivery of the Bell Boeing 609, the civilian version of the military V-22 Osprey, is slated to begin in 2001.

Company officials expect to announce more orders in coming months.

The tilt-rotor combines the takeoff, hover and landing capabilities of a helicopter with the high speed and efficiency of a turboprop aircraft. Although initial development of the military version was fraught with technical problems and production delays, company officials believe the tilt-rotor eventually will change how aviation supports business and civil ventures.

It offers the potential to greatly improve the speed and range of helicopters involved in offshore oil rigs, emergency medical transportation and corporate travel.

The plane and helicopter combo, which is on display at Le Bourget airfield in Paris, does not require a runway to land.

The tilt-rotor was developed by a joint venture of Bell Helicopter Textron and Boeing. It can fly 275 knots (about 316 mph) and has a range of 750 nautical miles. Its pressurized cabin seats up to nine passengers and a two-person crew.

In a separate announcement Monday, Boeing confirmed that Icelandair will be the second customer for the new Boeing 757-300. It will be the first airline to use the new jetliner in regularly scheduled service. Condor Flugdienst, the German charter airline, was the launch customer for the model last year.

Icelandair will buy four Boeing 757 twinjets, including two 757-300s and two 757-200s. All will be powered by Rolls-Royce engines. The estimated value of the order is $272 million. Icelandair also has reserved options on eight more 757s.