Thread: The First Images Of The First Bell V-280 Valor Next-Generation Tilt-Rotor Aircraft

Bell V-280 Valor is a third-generation tilt-rotor aircraft being developed by Bell Helicopter for the United States Army’s Future Vertical Lift program. And here is the first demonstrator aircraft being readied for its maiden flight.

The V-280 Valor is Bell’s submission for the U.S. Army’s Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) phase, the technology demonstration precursor to Future Vertical Lift (FVL), a replacement for the service’s Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk and Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters.

The V-280 will have a crew of 4 (including two pilots) and be capable of transporting up to 14 troops. Its cruising speed will be 280 knots (hence the designation V-280) and its top speed will be 300 kts. It’s designed for a range of 2,100 nautical miles and an effective combat range of 500 to 800 nmi although the Army’s requirements for the demonstrator call for hot and high hover performance (at 6,000 feet and 95 F), and the ability to self-deploy 2,100 nautical miles at a speed of at least 230 knots.

Featuring a triple-redundant flight-by-wire Flight Control System and cutting edge avionics, the first prototype of the next generation helicopter is expected to perform its first flight in the next few months. On Aug. 30, what looks like a 100 percent complete aircraft, sporting the registration N280BH, was spotted at Bell Helicopter Amarillo Assembly Center (where the demonstrator aircraft began ground vibration testing with a 95 percent complete helicopter back in February 2017): the Valor is probably being prepared for engine tests ahead of its maiden flight (planned for Sept. 2017).

The T64-GE-419 engines and gearboxes in the nacelles are clearly visible in the interesting images in this post obtained from a short video filmed by our friend Steve Douglass. Interestingly, unlike the V-22’s engines, that rotate with the gearboxes, in the V-280, the gearbox is the only thing that rotates. According to Bell “The output shaft is connected to the drive system through a spiral bevel gearbox that transfers power to the fixed gearbox and proprotor gearbox, which rotates on two big spherical bearings driven by a conversion actuator mechanism.” The Valor’s tilting gearbox design vastly simplifies the Osprey’s complex hydro-mechanical clockwork required for the tiltrotor action.The U.S. Army plans to field distinct platforms: a utility helicopter and an attack helicopter. For this reason, a variant, dubbed AV-280, is expected to carry rocket, missiles and also small UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) forward or aft with no rotor interference.

Noteworthy, also spotted at Bell Helicopter Amarillo Assembly Center recently is the first V-22 Osprey for Japan.

https://theaviationist.com/2017/08/3...aft-prototype/

Bell V-280 Valor - Bell Helicopter

An amazing piece of kit when they get it working right.

Hopefully it's safer than it's predecessor.

Originally Posted by Plan B

Hopefully it's safer than it's predecessor.

Apparently this is one of the big modifications over the osprey.

Originally Posted by Slick

The Valor’s tilting gearbox design vastly simplifies the Osprey’s complex hydro-mechanical clockwork required for the tiltrotor action.

the future is drone, not old crap technology from the 1940s

DRone on.

Originally Posted by Dragonfly

the future is drone, not old crap technology from the 1940s

I wouldn't want to fly in a hostile area in that thing; lose one engine or have it shot out and it would likely go into an uncontrollable spin.

Look what a disaster the Osprey (which is a similar aircraft) has been. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accide...he_V-22_Osprey

Primitive, really...They should get Elon Musk to design one...

a ridiculous waste of money.

Originally Posted by Dragonfly

the future is drone, not old crap technology from the 1940s

Already Lah! K-Max Unmanned Helicopter

Originally Posted by BaitongBoy

They should get Elon Musk to design one

You mean get Musk to conceive of, then hire people to design.

Originally Posted by Maanaam

Originally Posted by BaitongBoy

They should get Elon Musk to design one

You mean get Musk to conceive of, then hire people to design.

I'll bring the weiners...