V-280 Valor Program

In August 2014, the JMR-TD government team selected Bell Helicopter to build and fly the V-280 Valor as part of the demonstration program. Bell Helicopter and Team Valor are focused on building and flying a trusted, affordable and effective aircraft, and the team was on track for first flight in 2017.

On 10 July 2014 Bell Helicopter submitted its offering to the US Army for the Joint Multirole Rotorcraft-Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) programme. On 03 October 2014 the US Army picked designs from Bell Helicopter and a Sikorsky/Boeing team to continue development of Joint Multi-Role (JMR) high-speed rotorcraft designs. The rejected AVX design was a compound helicopter design similar to the Defiant. Meanwhile, the rejected Karem proposal was a variable-speed tilt-rotor similar to the Bell entry.

On 13 October 2014 Bell Helicopter announced that GE Aviation’s T64-GE-419 engine will power the Bell V-280 Valor demonstrator aircraft. GE will provide installation and test support of the T64-GE-419 engines for the Bell V-280 Valor demonstrator aircraft. Bell Helicopter plans to use a version of the Future Affordable Turbine Engine (FATE) in the production version of the Valor. With more than 3,300 engines produced and 11 million engine flight hours, the T64 continues to incorporate new technologies that contribute to enhanced performance and availability. These advancements have grown the T64-GE-419 model to nearly 5,000 shaft horsepower. The T64 engine powers rotary and fixed wing applications for the Marine Corps and Navy heavy lift helicopters, short take-off and landing fixed wing transports, and multi-engine amphibious aircraft.

On 14 October 2014 Bell Helicopter announced that Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will be providing the nacelle structures forthe Bell V-280 Valor. IAI will produce the V-280 nacelle structures using advanced automation technologies relying on the company’s broad experience in the development and manufacture of advanced aerostructures.

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, announced its show plans for the 2015 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit in Nashville, Tenn., March 29 – April 1. The company displayed its full-size mockup of the Bell V-280 Valor next generation tiltrotor aircraft. Follow this link to reach the media gallery for the Bell V-280.

“The Army Aviation Summit provides us with a great opportunity to engage with current and future Army aviation leadership,” said Mitch Snyder, executive vice president of Military Business at Bell Helicopter. “This unique event gives us the chance for precise, in-depth discussions on what the next generation of tiltrotor can deliver in support of the U.S. Army’s operating concepts and future doctrine.”

Throughout the show, the V-280 mockup was shown in both attack and utility configurations, demonstrating the aircraft’s versatility and multi-mission capability to attendees. The annual event washeld at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and convention center and hosted representatives from 22 countries.

The Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit provided the Army Aviation community with the opportunity for professional development, and brings together Army Aviation, government leaders and industry representatives at the 16 acre exhibit. Attendees will be able to hear leadership messages in general sessions, network with fellow attendees in deep dive sessions on technology and training, and attend presentations from U.S. Army leadership. The annual show also features recognition ceremonies for deserving Aviation soldiers and units.

The V-280 Valor moved from an innovative idea to a fully functional, high-performance aircraft that combines the best of vertical and fixed-wing flight in fewer than five years. In less than a year of flight-testing, the V-280 has already flown more than 70 hours and reached speeds that far outpace those of similarly sized helicopters, while showcasing extraordinary low-speed agility. On 27 November 2018 the Bell V-280 Valor was recognized by Popular Science with a Best of What's New Award in the Aerospace category for 2018.

On December 18, 2018 Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, and Team Valor marked the anniversary of the V-280 Valor’s first flight by continuing to prove the aircraft’s performance and technical maturity. As part of the U.S. Army led Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) program, the V-280 demonstrates that close collaboration between government and industry can deliver transformational speed, range and agility in vertical lift, in a fast and sustainable process.

In nearly 85 hours of flight and more than 180 rotor turn hours, some V-280 flight testing milestones are:

• Forward flight at 250 knots true airspeed
• In-flight transitions between cruise mode and vertical takeoff and landing
• 50-degree banked turns at 200 knots indicated airspeed
• 4,500 feet per minute rate of climb and sustained flight at 11,500 feet altitude
• Single flight ferry flight of over 370 miles
• Demonstrated low and high-speed agility with fly-by-wire controls

The V-280 continued to expand the envelope in flight testing and expects to complete all the key performance parameters in the coming months, including additional low-speed agility tests and full cruise speed in forward flight. "This anniversary is an important milestone as we provide options for the U.S. Army to meet its vision for a modernized force in the near future and regain overmatch in vertical lift. We are prepared to field a suitable, affordable and sustainable aircraft to meet that accelerated timeframe", said Vince Tobin, executive vice president for military business at Bell.