Bell has assembled just over 50% of its 360 Invictus helicopter that it is developing for the US Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft-Competitive Prototype (FARA-CP) programme and is performing final systems installation, according to a company official.
The Bell 360 Invictus, pictured in July, passes the halfway mark of assembly in Amarillo, Texas. (Bell)
Chris Gehler, Bell vice-president and programme director for 360 Invictus, told Janes on 11 August that the company has assembled the aircraft from the nose through the main fuselage to just in front of the tail, although several aircraft systems still need to be installed. Bell is installing wiring and hydraulic tubing as part of final assembly along with hydraulics and avionics.
The company is assembling the 360 Invictus' hub and blades separately from the aircraft. The main rotor blades have been built and are being instrumented. Gehler said these will be shipped up to Bell's facility in Amarillo, Texas, for the main rotor hub installation.
Bell has put 360 Invictus components into its drive system test laboratory for evaluation. These include the various gear boxes that will be on the aircraft, such as the main rotor gear box and the tail rotor gear box.
Gehler said the main rotor gear box has already been through pattern development and is starting to go through a test where Bell will run it at all of the 360 Invictus' expected and higher levels of power. This is to satisfy airworthiness authorities that the gears and gearboxes can last in over-torque situations. Gehler added that Bell also used this gearbox testing method on the V-280 Valor tiltrotor that it is developing for the US Army's Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) effort.
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