Rotorcraft
Bell V-280 Tiltrotor Makes First Flight
The tiltrotor provides twice the speed and range of conventional helicopters.
Bell's V-280 Valor tiltrotor made its first flight today. The aircraft is designed to provide twice the speed and range of conventional helicopters. (Photo: Bell)
Bell's V-280 Valor tiltrotor made its first flight today. The aircraft is designed to provide twice the speed and range of conventional helicopters. (Photo: Bell)

Bell Helicopter's V-280 Valor next-generation tiltrotor prototype made its first flight on December 18 from the company's facility in Amarillo, Texas. The V-280 program is part of the Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) initiative, a science and technology precursor to the Department of Defense's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program. It combines the resources of Bell, Lockheed Martin, GE, Moog, IAI, TRU Simulation & Training, Astronics, Eaton, GKN Aerospace, Lord, Meggitt and Spirit AeroSystems.