U.A.E.'s Sheikha Mozah Bint Marwan Al Maktoum First Woman to Pilot AW609 Tiltrotor

U.A.E.’s Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum became the first woman to pilot the Leonardo AW609 tiltrotor.

Sheikha Mozah piloted the aircraft during her visit to the U.S helicopter headquarters of Leonardo, located in Philadelphia.

“Piloting the AW609 has been on my bucket list since I first saw the early prototype images. It is the natural evolution of my piloting experience, merging both fixed and rotary-winged piloting skills. I am still pinching myself for this opportunity!  Aircrafts like this one make me feel really excited about the future of aviation, a future now open to more women who chose this industry,” Sheikha Mozah said.

The AW609 melds helicopter’s operational versatility (taking off and landing vertically) and the airplane’s performance advantages (pressurised cabin, speed, altitude and endurance abilities). Its ability to take off and land vertically and hover like a helicopter offers passengers the comfort of a turboprop airplane.

The aircraft is able to operate different kind of missions, including VIP transport, emergency medical service, search and rescue, and government applications. The AW609 can fly at a speed of more than 500 km/h with a range of almost 1,400 km, which increases to 2,000 km with auxiliary tanks.