Leonardo Helicopters

#Leonardo and the EU Clean Aviation JU (Joint Undertaking) are pleased to announce the first flight of the Next Generation Civil Tiltrotor – Technology Demonstrator (NGCTR-TD), which took place on 19 December at Leonardo’s Cascina Costa di Samarate facility (Varese, Italy). This milestone marks the start of the flight test phase for one of the most advanced technology programmes in the European civil aviation landscape. The #NGCTR programme aims to revolutionise civil vertical lift by combining #helicopter versatility with fixed-wing aircraft performance. With a cruise speed of 280 knots and a range of approximately 1,000 nautical miles, the tiltrotor opens new scenarios for mobility, freight transport and Search & Rescue (#SAR) missions, enabling faster coverage of larger areas with a significantly reduced environmental footprint.The NGCTR-TD has been developed within #CleanSky2, a core initiative of the European Horizon 2020 programme and an EU-funded Initiative for the development and validation of aeronautical technologies that will improve environmental impact and enhance the European aerospace supply chain.