Free Republic

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Textron Inc (NYSE: TXT) announced today that Bell Textron Inc., a Textron company, has been awarded the development contract for the U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program. The award is based on Bell’s V-280 Valor tiltrotor that was developed and tested as part of the Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR TD) program that began in 2013. The V-280 progressed through design, manufacturing, and more than three years of rigorous flight testing that provided extensive data validating the technical and operational advantages of the aircraft for the long-range assault mission. "We are honored that the U.S. Army...

Amarillo-built helos 'ready for combat' By Joe Gamm Created Mar 15 2011 - 12:00am An attack helicopter assembled in Amarillo has achieved initial combat readiness, and is being deployed to the Marine Corps. Bell Helicopter officials said the AH-1Z has earned an Initial Operating Capability designation six months ahead of schedule. "They are ready (for combat) now," said Col. Harry Hewson in an e-mail to the Amarillo Globe-News. Hewson, the program manager for the Marines light/attack helicopters, said on Feb. 25 the first Marine squadron received a detachment of six AH-1Z aircraft, along with required primary and support equipment and...

CUTAWAY: AH-1Z Viper enters production as substantially new aircraft By Initially envisioned as an effort to modernise the drive train of the US Marine Corps' (USMC) veteran fleet of Bell AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters, the AH-1Z Viper has essentially evolved into a new aircraft. The helicopter, which was developed alongside its close cousin, the UH-1Y, is a significant technological leap over its predecessor. The new airframe offers increased aerodynamic performance and exponentially more sophisticated avionics. The service hopes to procure some 226 AH-1Zs, including 58 new-build airframes and 168 machines remanufactured from the AH-1W. For the USMC, the appeal of...