Ata: The Advanced Tiltrotor Aircraft By Leonardo

Abstract

The ATA Advanced Tiltrotor Aircraft represents a further step in the evolution of the Leonardo tiltrotor design, based on the experience maturated over more than 30 years with the study or the development of EUROFAR, ERICA, AW609, NGCTR, bringing in front of the designers the advantages, the opportunities and also the challenges of this class of rotorcraft. In this framework, the new requirements recently emerging from various potential customers has been a strong stimulus to produce a competitive and distinctive tiltrotor concept design. The approach has been to push on the advantages of this configuration, in particular increasing aerodynamic efficiency, mission performance and operational capabilities, thanks to a number of relatively simple and proven features applied in an innovative approach. This paper describes the features of the ATA tiltrotor configuration as well as the pro's and con's of the concept, along with some results confirming the objectives of the work.