Aircraft
Bell Helicopter Back in the Civil Tiltrotor Game?
Bell Helicopter has reentered the civil tiltrotor arena with the unveiling of the V-280 yesterday. The aircraft is being entered into the U.S. Army's Joint Multirole Helicopter competition, but Bell said it plans to develop a civil version of the new tiltrotor. First flight of a V-280 prototype is expected by 2017. (Photo: Bell Helicopter)
Bell Helicopter has reentered the civil tiltrotor arena with the unveiling of the V-280 yesterday. The aircraft is being entered into the U.S. Army's Joint Multirole Helicopter competition, but Bell said it plans to develop a civil version of the new tiltrotor. First flight of a V-280 prototype is expected by 2017. (Photo: Bell Helicopter)

When Bell Helicopter sold its remaining stake in the BA609 civil tiltrotor program to partner AgustaWestland about two years ago, industry analysts figured that Bell was exiting this niche market. But that might not be the case, since Bell unveiled a next-generation tiltrotor–the Bell V-280 Valor–yesterday at the Army Aviation Association of America (Quad A) convention in Fort Worth, Texas.

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