Tag Archives: Spirit AeroSystems

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
Air Force

King’s Fuselage

Spirit AeroSystems has successfully delivered to Sikorsky the third fuselage section for the CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter program’s System Demonstration and Test Article (SDTA) contract. Consisting of an integrated cockpit and cabin structure with a separately attached tail section, the composite-skinned fuselage will enable prime contractor Sikorsky to begin assembling the third of four SDTA aircraft to further solidify the final production configuration of the CH-53K aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps.

Spirit AeroSystems has design and build responsibility on the composite fuselage for the Sikorsky CH-53K helicopter
Spirit AeroSystems has design and build responsibility on the composite fuselage for the Sikorsky CH-53K helicopter

«Spirit AeroSystems is pleased to be a major supplier to a new generation, heavy-lift helicopter capability for the Marine Corps», said Phil Anderson, Spirit senior vice president of Defense Programs. «The strong, lightweight composite structures we are providing to Sikorsky will in turn give the Marine Corps a much needed increase in payload capability».

Sikorsky came under contract to the U.S. Navy in 2013 to assemble and deliver the four SDTA aircraft by 2017 in support of the Marine Corps operational evaluation of the CH-53K platform. Spirit is on contract to deliver to Sikorsky the final SDTA fuselage unit later this year.

The U.S. Marine Corps will employ the four SDTA aircraft to verify the helicopter’s design capability to carry 27,000 pounds/12,247 kg over 110 nautical miles/126.6 miles/203.7 km under «high hot» ambient conditions, tripling the external load carrying capacity of the current CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter.

The USMC is planning for eight active CH-53K squadrons, one training squadron, and one reserve squadron
The USMC is planning for eight active CH-53K squadrons, one training squadron, and one reserve squadron

 

General Characteristics

Number of Engines 3
Engine Type T408-GE-400
T408 Engine 7,500 shp/5,595 kw
Maximum Gross Weight (Internal Load) 74,000 lbs/33,566 kg
Maximum Gross Weight (External Load) 88,000 lbs/39,916 kg
Cruise Speed 141 knots/162 mph/261 km/h
Range 460 NM/852 km
AEO* Service Ceiling 14,380 feet/4,383 m
HIGE** Ceiling (MAGW) 13,630 feet/4,155 m
HOGE*** Ceiling (MAGW) 10,080 feet/3,073 m
Cabin Length 30 feet/9.1 m
Cabin Width 9 feet/2.7 m
Cabin Height 6.5 feet/2.0 m
Cabin Area 264.47 feet2/24.57 m2
Cabin Volume 1,735.36 feet3/49.14 m3

* All Engines Operating

** Hover Ceiling In Ground Effect

*** Hover Ceiling Out of Ground Effect

Sikorsky Tests CH-53K Helicopter for Airframe Structural Strength
Sikorsky Tests CH-53K Helicopter for Airframe Structural Strength
Air Force

Valor at the start

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, and Spirit AeroSystems Inc. announced on June 15, 2015 that major assembly has started on the Bell V-280 Valor fuselage. The delivery of the first V-280 fuselage to the Bell Helicopter facility in Amarillo, Texas, is expected later this year. First flight of the V-280 Technology Demonstrator is anticipated in the second half of 2017.

Textron has started on the fuselage assembly
Textron has started on the fuselage assembly

«Spirit AeroSystems brings decades of composite manufacturing experience to the team which allows us to quickly build an aircraft like the V-280», said Phil Anderson, Spirit AeroSystems senior vice president of Defense. «This is a major milestone for the technology demonstrator unit. Spirit AeroSystems is proud to be on Team Valor and we are excited to be designing and building the composite cabin and cockpit for the V-280».

«U.S. ground forces require significant increase in speed and range to operate against and strike adversary systems much deeper than existing platforms», said Mitch Snyder, executive vice president of Military Business for Bell Helicopter. «That is the vision for Future Vertical Lift (FVL). The V-280 advanced technology tiltrotor provides the Department of Defense (DoD) with unmatched speed, range and payload for expeditionary maneuver to win these future conflicts. We are confident in the capability that the V-280 will provide, and we are proud to have Spirit AeroSystems adding their expertise to Team Valor and to the Bell V-280. Spirit AeroSystems beginning major assembly on the V-280 fuselage brings this high-performance aircraft one step closer to completion».

With more than twice the speed and twice the range of current helicopter platforms, the Bell V-280 is designed to provide combatant commanders with the ability to reach the battlefield while providing superior low-speed agility at the objective. The efficient speed and reduced reaction time provided by the V-280 will allow operators to outmaneuver their adversaries. The tiltrotor’s speed, range and payload significantly reduce logistical, security and medical footprints, freeing up personnel and additional combat power.

Bell Helicopter has led the formation of Team Valor, a group of preeminent aerospace companies bringing the best engineering resources and industrial capabilities to meet the Department of Defense’s anticipated needs.

In August 2014, the JMR-TD government team selected Bell Helicopter to build and fly the V-280 Valor as part of the demonstration program
In August 2014, the JMR-TD government team selected Bell Helicopter to build and fly the V-280 Valor as part of the demonstration program

 

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

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

 

Team Valor includes:

Lockheed Martin

Spirit AeroSystems

Astronics

Eaton

General Electric

GKN Aerospace

Israel Aerospace Industries

Lord

Meggitt

Moog

TRU Simulation and Training

 

The Future of Vertical Lift has taken shape, as a full-scale mockup of the Bell V-280 Valor