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The Airframer Bulletin

Bell X-76
All news ✕ Clear ‹ Current edition

Every Bulletin story and press release covering Bell X-76, newest first.

13 items

2026
12 March The X-76 aircraft is designed to cruise at 400–450 knots while retaining vertical lift and runway independent capability.

Bell advances DARPA SPRINT after X-76 design review

Completion of the critical design review allows Bell to begin building the high-speed demonstrator designed for jet-like cruise.

2025
10 July Cruise speeds of up to 450 knots are targeted for the vertical lift demonstrator.

Bell enters Phase 2 of DARPA SPRINT X-plane programme

Detailed design and construction has followed conceptual work completed in Phases 1A and 1B under Bell’s decade-long development effort.

29 April

ReleaseHigh-speed vertical lift concept completes wind tunnel testing

2024
12 December

Bell completes tunnel testing to validate stop/fold jet transition

Building upon the previous folding rotor testing, the wind tunnel program validated the stability and control of the aircraft through the rotor fold and unfold sequence in flight.

10 October Fan-in-wing technology powers Aurora’s concept for unprecedented speed and stealth in a vertical lift platform.

Aurora reveals fan-in-wing design progress

Fan-in-wing technology combines an embedded lift fan with a blended wing body design to enable vertical lift agility without sacrificing the payload capacity and aerodynamic efficiency.

28 May

ReleaseBell awarded funding for phase 1B of DARPA Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane program

22 May New renderings of the fan-in-wing demonstrator reveal three lift fans, a refined, composite exterior and an uncrewed cockpit.

Aurora's latest X-Plane design speeds ahead

The concept is a low-drag, fan-in-wing demonstrator that combines the agility of VTOL with unprecedented speed. An Aurora and Boeing team is advancing this concept to the preliminary design phase.

8 February

ReleaseBell demonstrates High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing (HSVTOL) technology at Holloman Air Force Base

2023
30 November Bell's contender, involving folding rotors.

Four contenders launch SPRINT x-plane projects

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.

22 November The project aims to design, build, and fly an X-Plane to demonstrate technologies and integrated concepts necessary for a transformational combination of aircraft speed and runway independence.

Aurora to design high-speed vertical lift X-Plane

Design work will take place at Aurora Flight Sciences and Boeing facilities across states including Virginia, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. The program is targeting first flight of the demonstrator within 42 months.

13 September

ReleaseBell begins HSVTOL risk reduction testing at Holloman Air Force Base

2022
21 September Bell's HSVTOL.

Sierra Nevada provides mission systems for Bell's HSVTOL

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.

16 February

ReleaseBell receives market research investment to advance U.S. DoD High-Speed VTOL capabilities