Thu, May 17, 2018

Bell V-280 Valor Marks Flight Test Milestone

Flies In 'Cruise Mode' For The First Time

The Bell V280 Valor has reached a significant milestone it its flight test program. On May 11, the aircraft flew in "cruise mode" for the first time, reaching a true airspeed of 190 knots.

The flight marks the first time the airplane has transitioned from vertical to horizontal flight by pivoting the rotors to a forward-facing configuration. Vertical Magazine reports that the team will continue to gradually expand the aircraft's flight envelope with a goal of achieving the designed cruise speed of 280 knots.

The V-280 Valor is powered by two 5,000 horsepower GE T64-GE-419 engines. It is designed to carry a crew of four and up to 14 passengers at a combat range of between 500 and 800 nautical miles.

The aircraft first flew on December 18 of last year. It has accumulated more than 27 hours of flight time an 90 hours of rotor turn time.

The V-280 Valor is Bells entry into the U.S. Army's Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) program, a precursor to the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program.

(Image provided by Textron)

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Bell V-280 Valor Marks Flight Test Milestone

Flies In 'Cruise Mode' For The First Time

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