HANGAR TALK UAS & eVTOL NEWS RELATING TO UNCrewed, AAM & eVTOL SYSTEMS


Bell Completes Wind Tunnel Testing Efforts to Validate Revolutionary Stop/ Fold Jet Transition Capability


Bell Textron has completed wind tunnel testing at the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University in support of the DARPA Speed and Runway Independent Technology (SPRINT) program. This test phase follows successful evaluation of the Stop/Fold rotor system using the Holloman High Speed Test Track (HHSTT) in New Mexico in 2023.


Building upon the previous folding rotor testing, the wind tunnel program


validated the stability and control of the aircraft through the rotor fold and unfold sequence in flight. Together, these two critical risk-reduction tests prove the concept is ready to move ahead into a flight demonstration as part of the DARPA SPRINT program.


“After completing folding rotor transition testing on the sled at Holloman Air Force Base last year, we’re thrilled to have now completed this next phase of testing,” said Jason Hurst, executive vice president, Engineering, Bell. “Bell’s advanced Stop/ Fold family of systems will revolutionize the speed, range and survivability vertical-lift aircraft to enable operations in


of


contested environments. We are excited to be part of another aviation milestone with this breakthrough technology.


Bell is currently in Phase 1B of the DARPA SPRINT program. The SPRINT program intends to design, build and fly an experimental aircraft (X-Plane) to demonstrate enabling technologies and integrated concepts necessary for a transformational combination of aircraft speed and runway independence for the next generation of air mobility and air combat platforms.


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Nov/Dec 2024


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