This photo is from the Bell V-280 Valor’s impressive first public flying demonstration last month at the Fort Worth Alliance Air Show. ⠀ In June 2015, Spirit AeroSystems began construction of the composite fuselage for the Bell V-280 Valor, work being completed and fuselages delivered to Bell in only 22 months. The rest of the primary subcontractor team consists of Lockheed (avionics, sensors, and weapons capability), Moog (flight control system), General Electric (engines), Eaton (hydraulics and power generation), Israel Aerospace Industries (nacelle structure) and GKN Aerospace (V-tail) among others. First flight of the V-280 Valor took place at Bell’s manufacturing plant in Amarillo, Texas, on 18 December 2017 and after a year of flight tests, had reached its target speed of 280 knots (320 mph), hence its name, V-280. The Valor has a V-tail made of thermoplastic materials for lightness. In fact, much of the Valor’s design was driven by weight considerations. Not only does this reduce costs and improve performance, it also makes the Valor more efficient in hover than the Osprey. The V-280 gave a spirited flight display at the Fort Worth Alliance Air Show on its first public demonstration. The performance included transitions between vertical and horizontal flight, several maneuvers while in hover including touch and goes, and high speed egress while in transition to horizontal flight. November Aviation Photo Challenge | @kjdphoto1971 | #1119planes | “VTOL” | Day 19⠀ ⠀ #Avgeek #aviation #aircraft #planeporn #KAFW #AFW #AllianceAirport #FWAAS2019 #AllianceAirShow2019 #airport #planespotting #Bell #V280 #Valor #N280BH #instagramaviation #aviationlovers #aviationphotography #instaaviation #aviationlovers #aviationphotography #flight #AvGeeksAero #AvGeekNation #AvgeekSchoolofKnowledge (at Fort Worth Alliance Airport) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5DCtEZh2Fv/?igshid=oupvg4dibtdg
