HH Sheikha Mozah Bint Marwan Al Maktoum first woman to pilot AW609 tiltrotor
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| HH Sheikha Mozah Bint Marwan Al Maktoum inside the cockpit of the Leonardo AW609 tiltrotor. She recently became the first female pilot to fly the type. |
Leonardo announced today that Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Marwan Al Maktoum recently marked a new and important milestone for female pilots in civil aviation. Upon her visit to the company's plant in Philadelphia, USA, she became the first woman to fly the AW609 tiltrotor.
“I’m thrilled to be the first female pilot to test this revolutionary aircraft. This is not just a personal milestone but an opportunity to shatter another glass ceiling for women. I always push myself beyond my limits to prove that if I can do it, it is also within the reach of anyone else who is determined enough to try”
“I’m thrilled to be the first female pilot to test this revolutionary aircraft. This is not just a personal milestone but an opportunity to shatter another glass ceiling for women. I always push myself beyond my limits to prove that if I can do it, it is also within the reach of anyone else who is determined enough to try”
According to Leonardo, the AW609 is one of the most significant technological innovations in the civil aviation landscape, melding the helicopter’s operational versatility (taking off and landing vertically) and the airplane’s performance advantages (pressurized cabin, speed, altitude and endurance abilities), opening new and exciting possibilities for passenger transport and public service.
“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.”
“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.”
Leonardo says that the AW609 will revolutionize point to point transport thanks to its ability to take off and land vertically and hover like a helicopter. It is able to operate different kind of missions, including VIP transport, emergency medical service, search and rescue, and government applications. Its maximum speed exceeds 500 km/h with a range of almost 1,400 km, which can reach 2,000 with auxiliary tanks.
Written by Matteo Sanzani
Images: Leonardo
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