Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
    • A-E
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
    • F-L
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
    • M-S
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
    • T-Z
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    • March 2025
    • Dec 2024/Jan 2025
    • Showcase 2025
    • September 2024
    • June 2024
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Press Releases
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Subscribe to magazine Subscribe to email newsletter Media Pack
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    1. March 2025
    2. Dec 2024/Jan 2025
    3. Showcase 2025
    4. September 2024
    5. June 2024
    6. March 2024
    7. Archive Issues
    8. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    19th March 2025

    In this issue: March 2025

    Online Magazines By Ben Sampson
    Recent

    In this issue: March 2025

    19th March 2025
    contents and front cover of magazine

    In this issue: December / January 2025

    19th December 2024
    Showcase 2025

    In this issue – Showcase 2025

    6th November 2024
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Press Releases
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
Helicopters & Rotorcraft

Bell to test new blades for V-22 Osprey

Anthony JamesBy Anthony James21st January 20162 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

New prop rotor blades will be tested in 2017 by Bell Helicopter on a V-22 ‘Osprey’ tiltrotor aircraft. The new blades are designed to reduce manufacturing costs for the type though undisclosed changes to the manufacturing process have been derived from ongoing development work on the next-generation V-280.

The modification is the latest in a series of trials under the manufacturer’s Advanced Technology Tiltrotor (ATTR) effort, a risk-reduction exercise for the Osprey’s US Marine Corps (USMC) and US Air Force (USAF) customers.

Test flights of the modified component will take place in 2017-2018 from Bell’s Arlington, Texas, USA, facility, using a Block A V-22 leased from the USMC’s VMM-204 test squadron.

Previous enhancements under ATTR to the V-22 – which is jointly produced with Boeing – have included the addition of improved inlet barrier filters to the tiltrotor’s Rolls-Royce AE 1107C powerplants, for better performance in dusty or saltwater environments. Flight testing of an enhanced infrared suppressor is currently around 50% complete, said Jason Hurst, senior manager of global military business, Bell.

Carriage tests of the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine that powers the Lockheed Martin F-35 were also carried out to ensure the V-22 could perform the carrier onboard delivery mission for the US Navy, which has 48 examples on order.

In addition, Bell has conducted firing tests of the BAE Systems APKWS guided rocket and Raytheon Griffin B missile from the Osprey, with an L-3 Wescam MX-15 turret used for target designation.

Other options include the possible integration of either a fixed or turreted nose-mounted gun, however no decision has been made by either the USAF or USMC to add the capability to the tiltrotor.

“We know they want [armament], but we just don’t know what,” Hurst said.

Evaluation of the V-22’s potential in the tanker role, using a hose-and-drogue system, has also been carried out previously. However, no contacts were made during the trials using a USMC Boeing F/A-18. The work is to support potential inflight refueling of the F-35B.

January 21, 2016

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticlePave Hawk helicopter begins testing new machine gun
Next Article Direct effects of lightning testing at NIAR
Anthony James

Related Posts

The Bell 525 Helicopter
Flight Testing

Bell 525 helicopter operational test flight program announced for Guyana

11th March 20252 Mins Read
Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter
Defense

Sikorsky starts ground testing new Black Hawk engines

5th February 20252 Mins Read
TriFan 600 images
Drones & Air Taxis

XTI Aerospace presents TriFan 600 VTOL to FAA

11th December 20242 Mins Read
Latest Posts

Industry Adoption of 3D Optical Surface Gauges

21st May 2025

NDT: Robotics and software spur innovation

21st May 2025

Wisk and NASA to partner on US autonomous flight operations and standards

20th May 2025
Supplier Spotlights
Our Social Channels
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Getting in Touch
  • Subscribe To Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Meet the Team
  • Media Pack
Related Topics
  • Aircraft Interiors
  • Business Jet Interiors
FREE WEEKLY NEWS EMAIL!

Get the 'best of the week' from this website direct to your inbox every Wednesday

© 2023 Mark Allen Group Ltd | All Rights Reserved
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.