Hybrid - V-280 flyr - R&W video

WATCH: Bell Helicopter’s V-280 Demos Forward Flight

By S.L. Fuller | February 6, 2018

Bell Helicopter, FVL, Tiltrotor, V-280, Heavylift

 
 
 
 
 

The Bell Helicopter V-280 has shown it is capable of 80-kt forward flight (video courtesy of Bell Helicopter). Since it took its maiden flight in December, the V-280’s program has been progressing.

Bell said the aircraft has logged more than 52 hours of rotor turn time and more than eight hours of flight time. It has shown its ability to ground taxi, hover taxi and perform low altitude hovering maneuvers. This includes 360 pedal turns and forward/aft/lateral repositions, 40-kt roll on landings, and forward flight.

The V-280 Valor is Bell’s offering in the U.S. Army-led Future Vertical Lift program. Although the program doesn’t call for it, Bell has built a prototype. A Sikorsky/Boeing team is also participating in the technology demonstrator program with its SB>1 Defiant.