This month, Bell delivered three Bell UH-1H-IIs to the Lebanese Air Force (LAF). These aircraft will augment their existing fleet and be utilized for search and rescue, troop transport, firefighting and utility missions.
Bell Delivers Three Huey IIs to the Lebanese Air Force
«We are privileged to support the LAF with additional Huey II aircraft, which will enhance its operational capability», said Tim Evans, regional sales manager, Africa and the Middle East. «This proven platform equips their squadron with the most capable utility helicopter available».
The LAF has been flying the UH-1 series helicopters since the early 1990s in multiple roles. Most recently, its Huey IIs extinguished the fires caused by the port explosion in Beirut.
«The LAF is honored to add three more Huey IIs to our fleet», said Commander BG Heykal, LAF. «We value this aircraft for its multi-mission capabilities, reliability and durability and appreciate the Bell team for their quality customer support and longtime partnership».
The Bell UH-1H-II is a versatile, single engine helicopter with high operational readiness and low operating costs. It has the best payload in its class and excels in multiple mission configurations.
Bell Boeing delivered the first V-22 Osprey to Camp Kisarazu in Japan on July 10. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) is the first operator of the V-22 Osprey outside of the U.S. military.
A V-22 Osprey aircraft bound for the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) based at Camp Kisarazu departs Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, July 10, 2020. The ferry flight from MCAS Iwakuni marked the delivery of the first V-22 Osprey to the Japan Self Defense Force (Photo: U.S. Marine Corps)
«The delivery of the first Japanese V-22 Osprey is an important milestone and represents our strong partnership with the Government of Japan», said Shane Openshaw, Boeing vice president of Tiltrotor Programs and Bell Boeing deputy program director. «The Osprey’s ability to carry out the toughest missions in the most challenging operating environments will reshape what is possible for the Japan Ground Self Defense Force».
The V-22 Osprey can conduct multiple missions not possible with traditional rotorcraft or fixed-wing aircraft, improving mission efficiency and reducing logistic costs. Japan’s V-22 Osprey has a unique configuration with a customer-specific communication system. The marinized design resists corrosion and reduces the cost of long-term maintenance. JGSDF service members have been training with U.S. Marines for the last month to gain aircraft proficiency before delivery of their first V-22 Osprey.
«We have had the pleasure of working with the JGSDF state-side to produce, develop, train and maintain their initial fleet of aircraft», said Marine Corps Colonel Matthew Kelly, program manager for the V-22 Osprey Joint Program Office (PMA-275). «This arrival marks a key step in standing up its V-22 Osprey fleet, and more importantly, the continued collaboration between our nations».
Japan joins the United States Marines, Navy, and Air Force in operating the V-22 Osprey. These aircraft support multiple missions, including the transportation of personnel, supplies, and equipment; humanitarian support and search and rescue missions; long-range personnel recovery. With more than 500,000 flight hours, the V-22 Osprey is one of the most in-demand platforms in military aviation, providing safe, survivable, combat-proven mission success only capable with the tiltrotor range, speed and versatility of the V-22 Osprey.
The Bell V-280 Valor successfully achieved its namesake optimal cruise speed of 280 knots/322 mph/519 km/h on Wednesday, 23 January 2019 at our Flight Research Center in Arlington, Texas.
Bell V-280 Valor achieves key milestone: forward flight at 280 knots/322 mph/519 km/h
Building on a full year’s worth of testing and more than 85 hours of flight time, Bell’s V-280 Valor reached its namesake cruising speed of 280 knots/322 mph/519 km/h true airspeed.
Bell and Team Valor continue to methodically and very successfully expand the flight envelope. The aircraft continues to prove its performance is well beyond legacy rotorcraft and will deliver revolutionary capability for warfighters as part of the Future of Vertical Lift (FVL) program.
«It is a remarkable achievement to hit this airspeed for the V-280 Valor in just over a year of flight testing. Beyond the exemplary speed and agility of this aircraft, this significant milestone is yet another proof point that the V-280 is mature technology, and the future is now for FVL capability set 3», said Keith Flail, vice president of Advanced Vertical Lift Systems at Bell.
Purpose-built to conduct long range assault at twice the speed and range of existing medium lift helicopters, the V-280’s technical maturity demonstrates that close collaboration between government and industry can deliver transformational capabilities in a rapid and sustainable process.
«Cruising at twice the speed of legacy helicopters, with double the range, really changes the way the U.S. military can enable multi-domain operations. By eliminating forward refueling points alone, leaders can focus on operational goals while minimizing logistical burdens», said Ryan Ehinger, V-280 program manager at Bell.
Additionally, Bell’s digital design and design-as-built methodology for the V-280 focused on creating a sustainable and affordable aircraft. The team took great care to simplify designs and advance technology readiness to inform requirements for FVL CS3.
As the program moves into 2019, V-280 flight testing will continue to prove out Bell’s key performance parameters and reduce FVL risk in the U.S. Army led Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) program. The next stages will expand the performance envelope highlighting further low-speed agility maneuvers, angles of bank and autonomous flight.
These milestones continue to demonstrate that the V-280 Valor is ready and that the Future of Vertical Lift is now.
The latest flight statistics include:
Forward flight at 280 knots/322 mph/519 km/h true airspeed;
Over 85 hours of flight and more than 180 rotor turn hours;
In-flight transitions between cruise mode and vertical takeoff and landing;
45-degree banked turns at 200 knots/230 mph/370 km/h indicated airspeed;
4500 feet/1,372 m per minute rate of climb and sustained flight at 11,500 feet/3,505 m altitude;
Single flight ferry of over 370 miles/595.5 km;
Demonstrated low and high-speed agility with fly-by-wire controls.
Bell announced that PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), has signed a purchase agreement with the Indonesian Army for nine Bell 412EPI helicopters.
Indonesian Army selects nine Bell 412EPI helicopters to fleet
Under the contract, Bell will deliver the nine helicopters to PTDI, who will then perform customization work before final delivery to the Indonesian Army. In 2016, Bell and PTDI signed an expanded Industrial and Commercial Agreement which enabled the two companies to expand their support and services in Indonesia to Bell helicopter operators.
Bell has been present in Indonesia for more than 50 years with an estimated 110 aircraft currently in operation. Bell’s presence in Indonesia includes a Bell-authorized service facility, a certified maintenance facility and dedicated customer service engineers located in Jakarta.
Specifications
SPEEDS AT MAX GROSS WT
Velocity to Never Exceed (VNE)
140 knots/161 mph/259 km/h
Maximum Cruise
122 knots/140 mph/226 km/h
Range at Long Range Cruise Speed (VLRC)
363 NM/418 miles/672 km
Max Endurance
3.8 hrs
CAPACITIES
Standard Seating
1 + 14
Maximum Seating
1 + 14
Standard Fuel
331 US gal/1,251 litres
Auxiliary Fuel (Optional)
33 or 163 US gal/123 or 617 liters
Cabin Volume
220 feet³/6.2 m³
Aft (Baggage) Compartment Volume
28 feet³/0.8 m³
WEIGHTS
Empty Weight (IFR Standard Configuration)
7,071 lbs./3,207 kg
Maximum Gross Weight (Internal)
11,900 lbs./5,398 kg
Maximum Gross Weight (Internal, Optional)
12,200 lbs./5,534 kg
Useful Load (Internal, IFR Standard Configuration)
4,829 lbs./2,190 kg
Useful Load (Internal, Optional, IFR standard configuration)
Bell Boeing Joint Program Office, Amarillo, Texas, is awarded $4,191,533,822 for modification P00008 to convert the previously awarded V-22 tiltrotor aircraft advance acquisition contract (N00019-17-C-0015) to a fixed-price-incentive-fee multiyear contract. This contract provides for the manufacture and delivery of 39 CMV-22B aircraft for the U.S. Navy; 14 MV-22B aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps; one CV-22B for the U.S. Air Force; and four MV-22B aircraft for the government of Japan.
The U.S. Navy will use its new CMV-22B for transporting personnel and cargo from shore to aircraft carriers, eventually replacing the C-2 Greyhound, which has been in service since the mid-1960s (Boeing image)
«Bell Boeing is pleased to extend production of the V-22, supporting our warfighters with one of the most versatile and in-demand platforms in the U.S. arsenal», said Chris Gehler, Bell Vice President for the V-22 Program. «This multiyear production contract provides program production stability through at least 2024».
The U.S. Navy will use its new CMV-22B for transporting personnel and cargo from shore to aircraft carriers, eventually replacing the C-2 Greyhound, which has been in service since the mid-1960s.
«By combining aircraft for three services and a key U.S. Ally into one multiyear order, the U.S. Navy gets more capability for its procurement dollar», said Kristin Houston, Vice President, Boeing Tiltrotor Programs and Director, Bell Boeing V-22 Program. «It also enables the U.S. Navy to begin advancing its carrier onboard delivery fleet with modern tiltrotor aircraft. It’s a true win-win».
CMV-22B Specifications
Primary Function
Airborne Re-supply/Logistics to the Seabase (AR/LSB)
Contractor
Bell-Boeing
Propulsion
Two Rolls-Royce Liberty AE1107C engines, each delivering 6,150 shaft horsepower/4,586 kW
Length
63 feet/19.2 m
Wingspan
84.6 feet/25.8 m with rotors turning
Height
22 feet, 1 inch/6.73 m with nacelles vertical
Weight
Maximum gross, vertical take-off: 52,600 lbs./23,859 kg; Short take-off; 57,000 lbs./25,855 kg (testing in progress to increase)
Airspeed
Cruise: 269 knots/310 mph/498 km/h
Ceiling
25,000 feet/7,620 m
Range
1,165 NM/1340 miles/2,158 km
Crew
4 – pilot, copilot, crew chief, second aircrewman; 23 passengers
