Bell Demonstrates High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing (HSVTOL) Technology at Holloman Air Force Base
Bell showcases High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing (HSVTOL) technology capabilities upon completion of testing efforts at Holloman Air Force Base. The team has utilized the Holloman High Speed Test Track to demonstrate the folding rotor, integrated propulsion and flight control technologies at representative flight speeds.
“The successful sled test completion is a culmination of Bell’s HSVTOL research and unprecedented technology development,” said Jason Hurst, Executive Vice President, Engineering. “The technology demonstration provides Bell with critical experience and knowledge that will inform our X-plane development for DARPA’s SPRINT program. It is a pivotal step in the creation next generation of high-speed vertical lift aircraft for future warfighters.”
The SPRINT program intends to design, build, and fly an X-Plane, an experimental aircraft 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 platforms.
Bell Showcases High-Speed VTOL Tech in DARPA's SPRINT Program
Bell successfully demonstrated its High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing (HSVTOL) technology at Holloman Air Force Base, utilizing the base's high speed test track for an in-depth assessment of their folding rotor, integrated propulsion, and flight control technologies at representative flight speeds. This experience provides invaluable insight for the continued development of their X-plane for DARPA's SPRINT program, the intention of which is to build an X-Plane that combines aircraft speed and runway independence as part of a transformational advancement in next-generation air mobility platforms.
