It has manufactured cabins and fuselages, electrical harnesses and components, instrument panels, firewalls, bulkheads, floors and other structural components for the Bell 206L4, 407, 429 and 412 platforms.
Eaton will supply the aircraft's hydraulic power generation and hydraulic conveyance components in addition to oil swivels, hydraulic panels and maintenance-free accumulators.
The facility supports end-to-end integration of fly-by-wire systems with avionics, electrical, hydraulic, flight controls, and mission and sensor systems for multiple current and future programs, manned and unmanned.
Bell is currently conducting risk reduction testing at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico to demonstrate its folding rotor, integrated propulsion, and flight control technologies using a dedicated test article.
As Bell prepares for flight tests, the T901 engine, also a new development program, is still progressing through developmental testing with GE for the Army and has an expected clearance for flight in 2024.
Once the aircraft has been functionally tested with the T901 installed, the next steps for the Bell 360 include completing the Test Readiness Review and a restrained ground run.
The landing gear expert company currently works with more than 25 airframers, and has been a committed partner in the Bell tiltrotor program since 2018.
Works will include ruddervator, flaperon and swashplate actuators, active force feel inceptor system, pylon conversion actuators, flight control computers, power converter units and some hydraulics.
Future HSVTOLs will have the capability to use runways with conventional jet takeoff when runways are intact and independence with short field takeoff and vertical takeoff when runways are compromised.
SNC already supports Bell with additional mission systems expertise for the development of the Bell 360 Invictus for the U.S. Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) competition.
Eleven contenders had until June 30 to complete Phase 1 of the AFWERX High Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing Challenge. Horizon, for one, hopes to continue testing and designing a full-scale aircraft.
As the mission systems integrator for the Bell 360 Invictus, SNC will play a key role in providing mission equipment that delivers the most cost-effective next-generation capability the Army requires.
Bell has made progress on the Invictus fuselage, main rotor blades, gearbox assembly, cases and other components. A design-as-built methodology digitally connects the entire program throughout its lifecycle.
High-speed VTOL aircraft could offer enhanced runway independence, aircraft survivability, mission flexibility and enhanced performance over legacy platforms. Bell is already bringing designs to the party.
The UH-1Y shares 85 percent commonality of parts with the AH-1Z. The commonality between the aircraft enabled critical component supply chains to remain active during AH-1Z production for the USMC.
The V-280 Valor has marked the completion of its three-year flight-test program with a series of demonstrations to highlight its revolutionary performance during more than 214 hours of flight.
Experience with the V-22 Osprey will be invaluable now that Safran has been selected to provide landing gear and braking systems for the V-280 Valor program. Four sites in Europe and North America will play a part.
The MTC is an innovative proving ground where Bell plans to test and refine technologies and processes and demonstrate readiness and ability to successfully build and support Future Vertical Lift aircraft.
Team Invictus is developing the Bell 360 prototype, with the Army's FARA program targeting first flight in 2022. Enidine's vibration and energy absorption technology is already certified on the Bell 505.
Work continues on Bell's autonomous APT 70 system, which the company believes will eventually support medical supply drops, basic supply chain operations and even kiosk deliveries.
