Bell Helicopter has developed their tiltrotor aircraft for participation in the Joint Multi Role (JMR)/Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program of the US Army. V-280 Valor tiltrotor concept was unveiled at the 2013 Army Aviation Association of America’s (AAAA) Annual Professional Forum and Exposition in Fort Worth, Texas. Bell Helicopter will compete against Boeing and Sikorsky together, AVX Aircraft and EADS.
V-280 Valor was built on the experience gained from the previous generations: the first XV-3 and XV-15, the following second generation 609 civil tiltrotor and V-22 Osprey. The new moment in V-280 is that his engines remain fixed horizontally while the rotors and drive systems change direction. Unlike the V-22, where engines rotate.
The “V” in the name means “Vertical”, and the number is the aircraft’s cruising speed of 280 knot (322 mph/518 km/h). Designed to be a medium class aircraft, the V-280 offers space for a crew with four members and 11 troops who can pass through 2 six foot (1.8 m) wide side doors. The company states that the combat range will be 500 to 800 nautical miles (575 miles/926 km), with a self-deploy range of 2,100 nautical miles (2,417 miles/3,889 km).
Thе wing will be produced in one large piece using the Large Cell Carbon Core technology with the purpose to lower weight and costs. Also, this construction will provide faster location of damage to the wing. The fuselage of the aircraft is also made of composite materials, features a V-tail and a triple redundant fly-buy-wire flight control system.
The JMR Technology Demonstrator program has the purpose to develop a medium-lift rotorcraft for the U.S. Army to replace current Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk and Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters. At least one or more of the companies above will be selected to build a prototype in 2017.
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