Bell Helicopters completes build of first V-280

Sept. 7 (UPI) -- A new fixed-wing tiltrotor aircraft from Bell Helicopters for the U.S. Army, the V-280 Valor, has been completely built and will conduct its first flight this fall, Bell reported this week.

"The V-280 was designed to provide our military with the speed, range and operational productivity needed to complete any mission and outmatch every opponent," the company said in a press release.

Innovations incorporated in the V-280 by Bell include stationary nacelles, which increases the ease of aircraft maintenance and safety of the ingress and egress.

Tiltrotor aircraft provide high-speed performance and low-speed agility. A tiltrotor now in use by the U.S. military is the V-22 Osprey, which was designed and built by a partnership between Bell and Boeing. The Osprey has a cruise speed of 277 miles per hour.

Bell assembled the V-280 at its facility in Amarillo, Texas.