Bell Helicopter has released a video showing the maiden flight performed by its new tilt-rotor aircraft.
The V-280, designed to fly twice as fast as conventional helicopters, was developed as part of the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program to create a new generation of tilt-rotor airframes.
All future helicopters will be equipped with similar onboard electronics, engines and weapons systems.
The prototype of the V-280 was presented to US Army officials in 2014.
Designers have sought to keep production costs down through a 30 percent improvement in weight savings and by eliminating the original “folded-wing” configuration.
The Valor carries a crew of two and can carry 14 troops or a payload topping 5.4 tons.
It has a cruising speed of 320 miles an hour, a combat range of up to 920 miles and can hover out of ground effect at 6,000 feet.
"This is an exciting time for Bell Helicopter, and I could not be more proud of the progress we have made with the first flight of the Bell V-280," Bell helicopter CEO Mitch Snyder said.
