Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Marwan Al Maktoum visited Leonardo’s United States helicopter headquarters in Philadelphia and piloted the AW609 tiltrotor, setting a new and important milestone for female pilots in civil aviation.
Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Marwan Al Maktoum visited Leonardo’s United States helicopter headquarters in Philadelphia and piloted the AW609 tiltrotor, setting a new and important milestone for female pilots in civil aviation.
“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.”
Leonardo was honoured to host Her Highness , providing her the opportunity to personally test the revolutionary AW609, the world’s first tiltrotor set to receive civil certification.
Her Highness was also the first woman to pilot the AW609, saying: “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.”
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 (pressurised cabin, speed, altitude and endurance abilities), opening new and exciting possibilities for passenger transport and public service.
