Bell Textron has been awarded a contract to develop its V-280 Valor tiltrotor for the U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program. According to Bell, the initial contract will cover refining the weapon system design, sustainment, digital enterprise, manufacturing, systems integration, flight testing and airworthiness qualification. The Army launched FLRAA in 2019 to “replace a portion of its assault and utility helicopter fleet” with the goal of fielding the chosen aircraft by 2030 and eventually replacing the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
I worked at Bell during the V-280 and Bell was completed with all of its flight testing years before the Sikorsky even took its first flight. The Defiant is no where near as capable or as fast as the 280.
I’ve always wanted ask: What happens when or if there is an engine failure to just one engine? This could be a bird strike, drone contact, mechanical, attack or even human error. What is “plan B?” Any weight on the main wing tips appears risky.
My understanding of the MV-22 Osprey tilt rotor is a driveshaft between engines coupling them together with a central gearbox. When one engine fails, the other engine will drive both rotors.
An annoying requirement from the design-engineering standpoint, but absolutely essential. Just imagine what it would be like if one of those huge thrust/drag producers suddenly went off-line!
The Osprey has been a notorious maintenance hog and killer aircraft with a checkered and dismal operational record. Lets hope they do a better job this time.