Bell Rotor-Folding X-Plane. © Bell Textron
Bell to build Rotor-Folding X-Plane for Phase 2 of DARPA SPRINT Program.
Bell Textron Inc. has been selected to move forward in Phase 2 of DARPA’s Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane program. In this phase, Bell will finalize the design, build, test on the ground, and work toward certification of a new experimental aircraft (X-plane).
The goal of the SPRINT program is to create aircraft that can hover in rough, unprepared environments and also fly at high speeds—between 400 and 450 knots—at operational altitudes.
In earlier phases (1A and 1B), Bell completed the initial design work for the aircraft. Phase 2 now focuses on detailed design and construction, leading up to flight testing in Phase 3.
To get ready for this next stage, Bell has already carried out key tests. These include proving the aircraft’s folding rotor system, integrated propulsion, and flight control technologies at Holloman Air Force Base, as well as conducting wind tunnel tests at Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR).
Jason Hurst, senior vice president, Engineering, said:
“Bell is honored to have been selected for the next phase of DARPA’s SPRINT program and is excited to demonstrate a brand-new aircraft with the first-ever stop/fold technology. This is an achievement we’ve been working towards for over 10 years, as we’ve leveraged our nearly 90-year history of X-plane development to bring new technology to our warfighters.”
source Bell Textron
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