Spirit begins its work on new tilt-rotor aircraft for Bell

Spirit AeroSystems has begun work on the composite cabin and cockpit for Bell Helicopter’s V-280 Valor aircraft.

Delivery of the first V-280 fuselage to the Bell’s facility in Amarillo, Texas, is expected later this year.

First flight of the V-280 is anticipated in the second half of 2017.

Bell is part of a team of companies including Spirit and Lockheed Martin that is called Team Valor and is developing the V-280 demonstrator for the U.S. Army.

Bell says the tilt-rotor aircraft has twice the speed and range of current helicopters.

This story was originally published June 16, 2015 at 11:48 AM with the headline "Spirit begins its work on new tilt-rotor aircraft for Bell."