Finally, AgustaWestland surprised the HeliExpo crowd by revealing that it has been secretly testing an electrically powered tiltrotor, mixing the versatility of a vertical takeoff and land helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft.

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But at 95 degrees Fahrenheit and 5, 352 feet above sea level, with no takeoff flaps, we needed more ground speed.

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Much more than a cosmetic enhancement for visual appeal, they increase lift, reduce drag and lower stall speed, which translates to a considerable performance boost on takeoff, climb, cruise and landing.

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