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"Bell Helicopter's Next-Generation Helicopter Just Flew " Topic


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Tango01 Supporting Member of TMP20 Dec 2017 10:22 p.m. PST

…For The First Time.

"Bell Helicopter's next-generation tilt-rotor aircraft, the V-280 Valor, has made its first flight, the company announced in a release Monday.

The black prototype, which resembles the older V-22 Osprey, also made by Textron Inc.'s Bell unit and Boeing Co., completed the roughly maiden flight around 2 p.m. local time at the company's Amarillo, Texas, facility, according to the company.

"This is an exciting time for Bell Helicopter, and I could not be more proud of the progress we have made with first flight of the Bell V-280," Mitch Snyder, president and chief executive officer of Bell Helicopter, said in a statement…."

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Armand

15mm and 28mm Fanatik21 Dec 2017 8:13 a.m. PST

Looks like the cab of a Blackhawk with the tilt rotors of an Osprey.

Personal logo Dentatus Sponsoring Member of TMP Fezian21 Dec 2017 9:57 a.m. PST

It does, doesn't it? Good eye.

General Kirchner21 Dec 2017 10:58 a.m. PST

thought the same thing…….

Tango01 Supporting Member of TMP21 Dec 2017 10:59 a.m. PST

(smile)

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Armand

paulgenna21 Dec 2017 11:28 a.m. PST

If is saves on development costs and does the mission then a smart move for all parties.

Lion in the Stars21 Dec 2017 4:22 p.m. PST

The US Army doesn't seem to be too interested in tilt-rotors, though. Probably because the USAF will try to claim them (particularly the armed versions).

Besides, the Sikorsky SB1 Defiant needs a smaller footprint in the landing zone.

14th NJ Vol21 Dec 2017 5:04 p.m. PST

Tilting the rotor blades vs. the entire engine nacelles like the V22 is a good move.
Hope the Army gives this a shot, even if only for a med-a-vac.

Personal logo McKinstry Supporting Member of TMP Fezian21 Dec 2017 5:16 p.m. PST

As with the two LCS variants, I'm betting we see both the Valor and Defiant in production. Call it a mix of pork barrel politics and hopefully, an abandonment of the swiss army knife approach to platforms.

Lion in the Stars22 Dec 2017 4:35 p.m. PST

@14th NJ Vol: Well, it puts your complications into a different spot. Tilting engines need fancier lubrication systems (though milspec turbine lube systems are good for strange g-loads and directions for an extended period of time). Tilting rotors alone need a fancy transmission.

I'm a big fan of KISS design, so put me down for tilting engines (or whole wings) in tiltrotors, and coaxial (SB1 and Russia's Kamov) or eggbeater rotors (Kaman K-Max) in compound helos.

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