Ulrichen was - with 1350m/AMSL - the highest active Air Base in Switzerland, being in operation between 1942 and 1999. After it's closure, it was a few times used by AgustaWestland for high altitude trials of various helicopter prototypes. Such was the case in September of 2009, when the 2nd prototype of the VTOL / Tilt Rotor AW-609 was based there for a week to conduct test flights. Seen here just about to take-off. Unfortunately, this airframe crashed in northern Italy on October 30, 2015 during high speed trials, with loss of both test pilots.

Destroyed in a fatal crash near Vercelli, Italy on 30th October 2015.

Showing the aircraft with engines/rotors in level flight