Air Force

First Fuselage

Spirit AeroSystems Inc. announced it has completed the first fuselage to Bell Helicopter for the Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) program. The unit was designed and assembled in Spirit’s rapid prototyping facility in Wichita, Kansas, in just 22 months. The composite fuselage is being prepped to ship to Bell’s Amarillo, Texas, facility for final assembly.

Spirit AeroSystems completes first fuselage for Bell V-280 Valor
Spirit AeroSystems completes first fuselage for Bell V-280 Valor

«Delivering a fuselage from design to completion in 22 months is an amazing accomplishment», said Spirit President and CEO Larry Lawson. «Spirit’s unique capability to design, build and deliver with the highest quality and lowest possible cost make us a great partner on revolutionary programs like the Bell V-280».

The U.S. Army-led JMR-TD program is the science and technology precursor to the Department of Defense’s Future Vertical Lift program, with the goal to replace 2,000 to 4,000 medium-class utility and attack helicopters. The V-280 Valor is Bell Helicopter’s offering for the JMR-TD program. A next generation tiltrotor, the Bell V-280 Valor advanced technology tiltrotor provides unmatched speed, range and payload for expeditionary maneuver to win in a complex world.

«Spirit AeroSystems is proud to be an investing member of Team Valor with 10 other premier aerospace companies. Together we are helping the Department of Defense inform requirements and reduce risk on a new development program while at the same time providing the capabilities to win on the battlefield», said Phil Anderson, Spirit senior vice president of Spirit Defense.

The V-280 is scheduled to make its first flight in the second half of 2017.

Completion of the first fuselage for Bell’s future V-280 Valor tiltrotor was marked by a short ceremony at Spirit AeroSystems’ plant in Wichita, Kansas (Spirit photo)
Completion of the first fuselage for Bell’s future V-280 Valor tiltrotor was marked by a short ceremony at Spirit AeroSystems’ plant in Wichita, Kansas (Spirit photo)

 

Facts

Speed: 280 KTAS/322 mph/518 km/h

Combat Range: 500-800 NM/575-920 miles/926-1,481 km

Strategically Self-Deployable: 2,100+ NM/2,416.5+ miles/3,889+ km Range

High/Hot 6k/95F Hover Out of Ground Effect (HOGE) Performance

Carries crew of four and 14 troops

Useful load of 12,000+ lbs/5,443+ kg

Triple redundant fly-by-wire flight control system

Conventional, retractable landing gear

Two 6’ wide large side doors for ease of rapid ingress/egress

Enhanced situational awareness and sensing technologies

Advanced tiltrotor to offer significant capabilities increase in speed, range and access
Advanced tiltrotor to offer significant capabilities increase in speed, range and access