First Flight Anticipated This Fall

Bell Helicopter says it is making exceptional progress on the V-280 Valor program and has achieved 100% build completion on the prototype aircraft. The team is now preparing for initial ground run at the Amarillo Assembly Center.

The V-280 is a clean sheet tiltrotor, applying lessons learned from previous generations of tiltrotor to create groundbreaking simplicity and deliver transformational, affordable technology to alter the course of vertical flight.
 
Bell says the company remains focused on providing exceptional flexibility in an advanced aircraft with reduced weight, complexity, and cost that offers the military with unmatched range, speed and payload capabilities on the battlefield. The first flight of the aircraft is currently planned for this fall.

Bell says the aircraft will have twice the speed and range of current helicopters. Its design supports ground maneuver and is purpose built for the squad plus enablers. The design features integrated cabin armor, fly-by-wire component redundancy, state of the art countermeasures and performance. Bell Helicopter’s design to build technology used on the V-280 Valor significantly enhances manufacturing, assembly, and sustainability, while greatly reducing the total cost.

The aircraft is projected to have a combat range of between 500 and 800 nm, carrying four crew and 14 troops at a speed of 280 knots. The useful load is in excess of 12,000 pounds.

(Images provided with Textron media release)

FMI: www.textron.com