Bell’s V-280 tiltrotor to make first flight

Bell Helicopter’s V-280 Valor tiltrotor prototype, developed to replace the U.S. Army’s UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters, is scheduled to make its maiden flight before the end of 2017


V-280 VALOR: Flight demonstrator builds on tiltrotor technology of Bell’s V-22 Osprey, used by U.S. Air Force and Marines

Tiltrotor: Rotors and driveshafts tilt while engine nacelles remain in place – simpler than V-22, which tilts entire engine

Plan view

Engines: Two 5,000shp GE T64 turboshafts

Airframe
Carbon fibre-reinforced composites reduce weight and cost

Armoured cabin

V-tail and ruddervators

Retractable undercarriage

Side doors: Allow troops to quickly enter and exit – unlike rear ramp on V-22 – and provide door gunners with wide field of fire

Vertical flight
Takes off, lands and hovers like helicopter

Forward flight
Speed, range and payload superior to helicopter


Attack variant

Nose-mounted gun turret

Internal bay and outboard pylons for guided missiles and rockets


Specifications	V-280	UH-60M
Speed		520km/h	280km/h
Combat radius	1,480km	600km
Payload		5,440kg	4,540kg
Crew		4	4
Troops		14	11


Sources: Aviation Week, Bell Helicopter, FlightGlobal, Sikorsky 
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