Business Aviation
Leonardo’s Next Generation Civil Tiltrotor Demonstrator Completes First Flight
Leonardo Helicopters conducted the maiden flight of its Next Generation Civil Tiltrotor Demonstrator, testing new fixed-engine design and aerodynamics.
This article is based on an official press release from Leonardo Helicopters and verified data regarding the NGCTR-TD program.
Leonardo Helicopters has successfully conducted the maiden flight of its Next Generation Civil Tiltrotor Technology Demonstrator (NGCTR-TD), marking a pivotal milestone in the European Union’s Clean Sky 2 initiative. According to an official statement from the company, the flight took place on December 19, 2025, at Leonardo’s facility in Cascina Costa, near Milan, Italy.
The aircraft, piloted by Leonardo Test Pilot Gianfranco Cito, performed a brief hovering sortie designed to evaluate basic system functionality and stability in helicopter mode. This event initiates a comprehensive flight test campaign aimed at validating new technologies that could define the future of civil vertical lift in the 2030s.
While the NGCTR-TD utilizes the fuselage of Leonardo’s existing AW609 tiltrotor to reduce development time and costs, the manufacturer emphasizes that the aerodynamic and propulsion systems are entirely new. The demonstrator is built to test five specific technologies intended to improve efficiency and reduce the mechanical complexity often associated with tiltrotor aircraft.
The most significant divergence from previous designs, such as the V-22 Osprey or the AW609, is the engine installation. In the NGCTR-TD, the twin GE Aerospace CT7 turboshaft engines remain fixed horizontally. Only the proprotors tilt to transition between vertical and forward flight. According to program details released by Leonardo, this “split-gearbox” drivetrain simplifies engine mounting and reduces structural stress, potentially lowering maintenance costs.
The aircraft features a new wing architecture with morphing surfaces designed to optimize lift and drag across different flight regimes. Additionally, a thermoplastic V-tail configuration has been adopted to reduce drag and minimize aerodynamic interference from the rotor wake.
Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters, highlighted the significance of the event in a company statement:
“Building on our established expertise in the tiltrotor domain, bringing this technology demonstrator to the air for the first time sets a major milestone on our path to provide a key contribution towards an even more advanced, effective and sustainable use of rotorcraft technologies in Europe.”
The NGCTR-TD is a flagship element of the Clean Sky 2 research program, which involves a consortium of 11 entities led by Leonardo. The project aims to mature these technologies to a level suitable for a commercial product launch in the next decade. According to verified technical specifications, the demonstrator targets the following performance goals:
Axel Krein, Executive Director of Clean Aviation JU, noted the collaborative nature of the project:
“The NGCTR shows how Europe can turn ambition and vision into impact… the program brought together more than 85 organizations from 15 countries with a common goal: to develop faster and more sustainable rotorcraft.”
Following this initial hover test, Leonardo plans a 200-hour flight test campaign through 2026 and 2027. This phase will expand the flight envelope from hover to full forward flight (airplane mode).
The Strategic Shift to Fixed Engines Competitive Landscape
Leonardo’s Next-Generation Civil Tiltrotor Demonstrator Achieves First-Flight
A New Architecture for Tiltrotors
Fixed-Engine Configuration
Aerodynamic Enhancements
Program Goals and Performance
AirPro News Analysis
The decision to decouple the engines from the tilting mechanism represents a major engineering pivot for Leonardo. Historically, tilting the entire engine nacelle (as seen on the V-22 and AW609) has introduced significant weight and gyroscopic challenges. By keeping the engines stationary, Leonardo is likely aiming to solve the reliability and cost issues that have hindered the widespread adoption of civil tiltrotors. If successful, this architecture could make high-speed vertical lift economically viable for commercial operators, not just military customers.
This milestone places Leonardo in direct competition for the future of high-speed European rotorcraft. While the AW609 is nearing certification as a first-generation product, the NGCTR-TD is clearly a response to next-generation demands, running parallel to Airbus’s RACER compound helicopter, which is also funded under the Clean Sky 2 umbrella. Both programs are racing to define the standards for speed, range, and sustainability in the 2030s market.
Sources
Photo Credit: Leonardo Helicopters