Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

Bell officially opened its new Wichita facility last week in building C-5, which is a space previously occupied by certain engineering resources of sister company Textron Aviation. Bell is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The company said its Wichita outpost will support multiple programs and business areas, including engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, and corporate services.&nbsp;

 


“I look forward to seeing Bell contribute to our strong aviation industry as a defense and commercial leader,” said U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), a member of the Senate’s defense appropriations subcommittee. Bell is a finalist on the Army’s future long-range assault aircraft (FLRAA) and future attack and reconnaissance aircraft (FARA) programs with its V-280 Valor tiltrotor and Invictus 360 helicopter, respectively.

 


The programs have a potential combined value of more than $60 billion with aircraft deliveries expected to begin by 2028 for FARA and 2030 for FLRAA. Bell’s announcement follows a report in May from the Center for Strategic and International Studies that suggested that whichever OEM is selected to manufacture the new aircraft, Bell or Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky unit (in partnership with Boeing on FLRAA), could encounter second-tier supplier problems and may need to bring more work on the aircraft in-house.&nbsp;

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Bell Opens Wichita Facility

Bell's new Wichita facility was previously occupied by sister company Textron Aviation. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Neelam Mathews

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Nepal’s army and private operators have deployed rotorcraft across the flood zone

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Charlotte Bailey

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Pentagon permission facilitates sale of Bell 412EXP and 407M

U.S. Approves $800M Bell 407/412 Sale to Iraq Military

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Fire and disaster management agency to use aircraft in aerial reconnaissance role

Japan Orders Its First H160 for Emergency Response

Flights with two scaled technology demonstrators will inform potential future iterations 

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Matt Thurber

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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