Bell V-280 Valor

[unhappycamper]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-280

Bell V-280 Valor

V-280 Valor
Role Vertical lift aircraft
National origin United States of America
Manufacturer Bell Helicopter
First flight 2017 (projected)
Status Under development

The Bell V-280 Valor is a third-generation tilt-rotor concept being developed by Bell Helicopter and Lockheed Martin[1] for the United States Army's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program. The aircraft was officially unveiled at the 2013 Army Aviation Association of America's (AAAA) Annual Professional Forum and Exposition in Fort Worth, Texas, with a projected first flight in 2017.

Development

On 5 June 2013, Bell announced that the V-280 Valor design had been selected by the US Army for the Joint Multi-Role (JMR) Technology Demonstrator (TD) phase. The JMR-TD phase is the technology demonstration precursor to Future Vertical Lift (FVL). The army classified the offering as a Category I proposal, meaning it is a well-conceived, scientifically or technically sound proposal pertinent to program goals and objectives with applicability to army mission needs, offered by a responsible contractor with the competent scientific and technical staff supporting resources required to achieve results. JMR-TD contracts were expected to be awarded in September 2013, with flights scheduled for 2017.[2] On 9 September 2013, Bell announced it would team up with Lockheed Martin to develop the V-280. Lockheed will provide integrated avionics, sensors, and weapons to the aircraft. Additional partners were announced in the coming months,[1] including Moog Inc. for the flight control systems,[3] GE Aviation for the engines,[4] GKN for the tail structure,[5] and Spirit AeroSystems for the composite fuselage.[6]

On 2 October 2013, the U.S. Army awarded a technology investment agreement to Bell Helicopters for the V-280 Valor tiltrotor under the Joint Multi-Role program.[7] Awards were also given to AVX Aircraft, Karem Aircraft, and Sikorsky Aircraft. JMR is not to develop a prototype for the next family of vehicles, but to develop technologies and interfaces. The TIAs give the four teams nine months to complete preliminary design of their rotorcraft, which the Army will then review and authorize the construction of two competing demonstrators to fly in 2017. While there is a potential for an early downselect, the four teams are focused on the 2017 flight demonstrations.[8][9] Each of the four teams received $6.5 million from the Army for phase I of the program, although Bell is investing an undisclosed amount of its own money.[10] On 21 October 2013, Bell unveiled the first full-scale mock-up of the V-280 Valor at Association of the United States Army 2013.[11]

Design

The V-280 is reported to be designed for a cruising speed of 280 knots (320 mph; 520 km/h), a top speed of 300 knots (350 mph; 560 km/h), a range of 2,100 nautical miles (2,400 mi; 3,900 km), and an effective combat range of 500 to 800 nmi (580 to 920 mi; 930 to 1,480 km). In one major difference from the earlier V-22 Osprey tiltrotor, the engines remain in place while the rotors and drive shafts tilt. A driveshaft runs through the straight wing, allowing both prop rotors to be driven by a single engine in the event of engine loss. The V-280 will have retractable landing gear, a triple-redundant fly by wire control system, and a V-tail configuration. The wings are made of a single section of carbon fiber composite, reducing weight and production costs. The V-280 will have a crew of 4 and be capable of transporting up to 11 troops. Dual cargo hooks will give it a lift capacity to carry a 10,000 lb (4,500 kg) M777A2 Howitzer while flying at a speed of 150 knots (170 mph; 280 km/h). The fuselage is dimensionally similar to that of the UH-60 Black Hawk medium lift helicopter. When landed, the wing is in excess of seven feet from the ground, allowing soldiers to egress easily out of two 6-foot (1.8 m) wide side doors and door gunners to have wide fields of fire. Although the initial design is a utility configuration, Bell is also working on an attack configuration.[12][13][14] GE Aviation will manufacture the engines for the V-280. The specific engine is unknown, but has funding from the Army's future affordable turbine engine (FATE) program. Technologies from FATE like advanced cooling systems could be directly inserted into the General Electric GE38 7,500shp-class (5,520 kW) engine, which will be used on the CH-53K. The GE38 has had 3,100 hours of testing and is to receive full military certification in 2014.[4] The V-tail structure and ruddervators, made by GKN, will provide high levels of maneuverability and control to the airframe. It will be made of a combination of metals and composites.[5]


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The MV-22 costs around $100,000,000 a pop. I wonder how much this one will cost?