In a bid to build the U.S. Army’s third generation tilt-rotor helicopter, Bell Helicopter has recently unveiled their new V-280 Valor at the 2013 Army Aviation Association of America's (AAAA) Annual Professional Forum and Exposition.
With its debut, Bell’s V-280 enters a field already crowded by the likes of Boeing & Sikorsky, AVX Aircraft and a yet to be announced design by EADS. Bell believes that their history of tilt-rotor design, dating back to 1958, gives them a strong position. Taking into account both that experience and the fact that the V-22 Osprey, the military’s second gen tilt-rotor, was adopted by both the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force, one can see why Bell feels confident in their new design. Well, assuming you ignore the rather unfortunate results of the Osprey’s test cycle.
Still, Bell believes they’ve learned from that experience, and plan to build on it. The V-280 has nixed the Osprey’s tilt-rotor motion, which saw both the engine and the rotors move in unison, and instead opted to keep the engines in a fixed horizontal position while the rotors and drive system tilt from vertical to horizontal.
Another obvious design difference lies in the wings. Unlike the Osprey, the Valor’s wings will be made of Large Cell Carbon Core material, which will be cheaper to manufacture and will reduce the overall weight of the craft.
But no one at the AAAA expo did a better job of describing the craft than John Garrison, CEO of Bell who stated, “The Bell V-280’s unmatched capabilities in speed, range, and payload, and its operational agility combine to deliver the best value for the U.S Army… This aircraft is the most advanced and operationally effective vertical lift solution, providing the War Fighter a decisive advantage. The name itself makes an important statement of its own: V representing vertical lift, 280 representing its unmatched speed, and Valor as a tribute to the service men and women who approach their jobs with valor every day.”
The U.S. Army has yet to set a date for their final selection, but they plan to have a prototype ready to fly by 2017.
Watch a Dramatization of the V-280 in Action:
Images and Video Courtesy of Bell Helicopter