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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. The team plans 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