義大利次世代傾斜旋翼驗證機首飛成功　民用航空技術邁入新階段

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義大利次世代傾斜旋翼驗證機NGCTR-TD完成首飛（圖片取自李奧納多公司Twitter）

義大利航太大廠李奧納多公司日前宣布，其研製的「次世代民用傾斜旋翼機技術驗證機」（NGCTR-TD）已順利完成首飛，象徵多項關鍵先進技術正式進入飛行驗證階段，也為傾斜旋翼技術拓展至民用航空市場奠定重要基礎。
Italian aerospace firm Leonardo announced that its Next Generation Civil Tiltrotor Technology Demonstrator (NGCTR-TD) successfully completed its maiden flight, marking the transition of several critical advanced technologies into flight validation and laying groundwork for civil tiltrotor aviation.

本次首飛於義大利北部米蘭近郊的卡西納柯斯塔（Cascina Costa）廠區進行，飛行過程中依序完成垂直起降、定點懸停等測試課目，初步驗證機體氣動設計與飛行控制系統的穩定性，為民用傾斜旋翼機研發寫下具指標意義的一頁。
The maiden flight took place at Leonardo’s Cascina Costa facility near Milan, where the aircraft conducted vertical takeoff, landing, and hover maneuvers to preliminarily validate aerodynamic design and flight control system stability—marking a significant step in civil tiltrotor development.

依照規劃，NGCTR-TD後續將累積約200小時飛行測試時數，逐步擴展飛行包絡線，蒐集關鍵性能與操控數據，作為未來完整機體設計的重要依據。李奧納多的最終目標，是在2030年代前推動首款民用傾斜旋翼機正式進入市場。
According to Leonardo’s roadmap, NGCTR-TD will undergo approximately 200 flight hours to progressively expand its flight envelope, collecting essential performance and handling data to support full-scale aircraft design, with the objective of market entry in the 2030s.

在技術源流上，NGCTR-TD係以李奧納多AW609傾斜旋翼機為基礎發展，沿用既有機身結構與奇異（GE）CT7渦軸發動機，但外型全面改採新一代傾斜旋翼配置，並導入固定式發動機艙設計，同時強化機翼結構、更新尾翼構型並整合先進飛控系統。
Technologically, NGCTR-TD builds upon Leonardo’s AW609 tiltrotor platform, retaining the same fuselage and GE CT7 turboshaft engines, while adopting a new-generation tiltrotor layout with fixed engine nacelles, redesigned wings, updated tail surfaces, and advanced flight control systems.

透過上述改良，該驗證機得以有效降低結構重量與系統複雜度，減少氣動阻力並提升燃油效率與整體飛行性能。根據目前規劃，其巡航速度可達每小時約520公里，最大航程約1850公里，顯示具備長程高速運輸潛力。
These refinements aim to reduce structural weight and system complexity while lowering aerodynamic drag and improving fuel efficiency and overall performance. Current projections indicate a cruise speed of approximately 520 km/h and a range of around 1,850 kilometers.

NGCTR-TD的研發背景，源自歐盟「潔淨天空2號」（Clean Sky 2）計畫，核心目標在於發展低污染、低碳排與低噪音的新世代航空器。李奧納多期望藉由此一驗證平台，打造兼具旋翼機垂直起降能力與定翼機高速巡航特性的民用航空載具，滿足未來物流運輸、醫療後送與人員移動等多元需求。
The NGCTR-TD originates from the EU-funded Clean Sky 2 program, which seeks to develop low-emission, low-carbon, and low-noise aviation solutions. Leonardo envisions the platform as a future civil aircraft combining vertical takeoff capability with fixed-wing cruise efficiency for logistics, medical evacuation, and passenger transport missions.