Bell completes critical structures and initiates gearbox testing for the MV-75 Cheyenne

Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, announced significant progress today with the MV-75 Cheyenne test aircraft build. In recent months, Bell and Team Cheyenne have met multiple milestones including completing critical structures, initiating gearbox testing and maturing software integration.

First nacelles complete – The first nacelle structures for the MV-75 Cheyenne were completed and are in Bell's Amarillo Assembly Center in Amarillo, TX. Following the completion, Bell initiated its wing and nacelle assembly process by successfully fitting them together. The completion of the nacelle structures reflects the successful application of digital engineering to advance through engineering, tooling, detail part manufacture and assembly of critical structures.

First gearboxes enter test – Bell commenced testing on the first gearboxes for the MV-75 Cheyenne test aircraft. These gearboxes, as a part of the overall drive system, are critical to aircraft operation, powering electrical power generators, hydraulic pumps and cooling blowers for the engine and nacelle. The MV-75 gearboxes are designed, manufactured and tested by Bell. Both the gears and cases were manufactured at Bell's Manufacturing Technology Center (MTC) in Fort Worth, TX. The complete system was instrumented and assembled for test in Bell's new MV-75 Drive System Test Lab (DSTL) in Grand Prairie, TX, which Bell broke ground on in 2023.

Weapon System Integration Lab (WSIL) Integration Matures – Bell is maturing the MV-75's software and digital backbone in the WSIL with various systems integrated onto the corresponding benches and undergoing testing including the flight control computers, general purpose computers, actuator drive unit, electrical components and large area displays. The work done in this facility comes two years after Bell opened it in Arlington, TX and supports the safe integration and validation of software and systems prior to flight of the actual test aircraft. By leveraging the WSIL, Bell can reduce technical risk and support the safe, rapid, and efficient execution of a flight test programme for the MV-75.

The completion of the nacelles along with the start of gearbox testing and software integration marks significant milestones for the first MV-75 test aircraft and moves Bell and Team Cheyenne closer to completing the build and beginning flight tests. Bell and our teammates are working closely with the Army throughout the build process to ensure the MV-75 meets programme requirements.

This material is based upon work supported by the Army Contracting Command - Redstone Arsenal under Contract No. W58RGZ-23-C-0001. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Army Contracting Command - Redstone Arsenal.