It took almost 10 years for the US Army command to decide to replace 2,000 dedicated army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and 1,200 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters with Bell Helicopter V-280 Valor convertiplanes. The implementation of the program will cost the country’s budget 1.3 billion. dollars.
Calling the V-280 Valor a novelty is difficult. The presentation of the tiltrotor took place in 2013, the first flight – in December 2017. However, the transfer of the first batch of combat vehicles to the customer should take place no earlier than 2025.
Unlike its advanced Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor, the V-280 Valor almost partially facilitates the use of composite materials, as well as the installation of two Rolls-Royce AE 1107F turboprop engines, a cover with two three-blade main propellers with a cardan shaft located inside the straight wing.
Specifications B-280 Meaning:
- Crew 4 people;
- Dimensions: 15.4 x 24.9 x 7 m;
- Weight without loading: 8.2 t;
- Maximum takeoff weight: 14 t;
- Cruise speed: 520 km/h;
- Pole range: 930 – 1480 km;
- Ceiling: 1800 m;
- Carrying capacity: up to 14 people or 4.5 tons of cargo.
Source: Tech Cult
