seruriermarshal
06-17-2005, 07:51 AM
Bell H-1 Program
Press Contact
Bob Leder
(817) 280-6440
bleder@bellhelicopter.textron.com
Paris Air Show Jun 13, 2005
The H-1 Program is a major upgrade to the US Marine Corps fleet of AH-1W SuperCobra and UH-1N utility helicopters to an advanced configuration featuring common engines, avionics and drive train components. The program involves 100 UH-1N and 180 AH-1W SuperCobra helicopters. Upon completion, the AH-1W will become the AH-1Z and the UH-1N will become the UH-1Y. The AH-1Z will be manufactured from existing AH-1W aircraft while the UH-1Y will be a new-build aircraft with the exception of the first dozen aircraft which will be remanufactured from existing UH-1N helicopters.
Currently, the H-1 EMD program is about 95 percent complete with 3,000 hours of flight test on five aircraft (three AH-1Z and two UH-1Y). Operations Evaluation (OPEVAL) is planned for later this year. Bell completed the turned exhaust installation on all five test aircraft and the company is now installing it on AH-1W aircraft already in the fleet. Testing demonstrated dramatic temperature reductions on the tailboom with no degradation in handling qualities or performance.
The Bell H-1 program is now in production on assembly lines located at Bell’s 184-acre manufacturing facility located in Amarillo, Texas. The jigs and tooling are in place and the first two production AH-1Z/UH-1Y aircraft have started down the production line.
Bell began to remanufacture six UH-1N and three AH-1W helicopters to the UH-1Y and AH-1Z standard during FY04. A second LRIP (Low Rate Initial Production) lot, currently scheduled to be another six Hueys and three SuperCobras, should enter production before the end of this year.
The H-1 includes 84 percent commonality between the two aircraft including engines (GE-T700 engines), four blade all composite, hingeless, bearingless main rotor system and tail rotor, identical drive trains, hydraulics Integrated Avionics System, helmets and the electrical distribution systems. By utilizing common systems, Life Cycle Costs for the two helicopters will be dramatically reduced and will allow for vastly improved shipboard operability. Far less critical shipboard space will be needed to store spare parts and support equipment for deployed Marines operating these new aircraft.
The H-1 Program will result in 280 new aircraft for the US Marine Corps to operate beyond 2025. The AH-1Z fleet will be "zero-time" airframes remanufactured with the latest technology, while the UH-1Y fleet will be new-build aircraft. The H-1 Upgrade Program increases the speed, range, maneuverability, firepower and lift capability of both aircraft. The savings in maintenance staffing and training, ground handling and support equipment, and spare parts inventories equates to billions of dollars over the life of the program.
Current advanced technology will provide the H-1 Fleet with increased battlefield survivability and greater mission success with fewer combat losses. In addition, the crashworthiness of both the UH-1Y and the AH-1Z will be improved over current aircraft. First flight of the AH-1Z occurred in December 2000, with the UH-1Y first flight in 2001. There are three AH-1Z and two UH-1Y aircraft in flight-testing at NAS Patuxent River, MD.
Bell Helicopter is a subsidiary of Textron Inc., a $10 billion multi-industry company with 44,000 employees in 40 countries. The company leverages its global network of businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services in industries such as aircraft, fastening systems, industrial products and components and finance. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Kate, Locoing, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others. More information is available at www.textron.com.
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From (http://www.bellhelicopter.textron.com/en/companyInfo/pressReleases/PR_2005Paris_H1.cfm)
http://www.bellhelicopter.textron.com/en/comp_info/UH_1Y.jpg
Press Contact
Bob Leder
(817) 280-6440
bleder@bellhelicopter.textron.com
Paris Air Show Jun 13, 2005
The H-1 Program is a major upgrade to the US Marine Corps fleet of AH-1W SuperCobra and UH-1N utility helicopters to an advanced configuration featuring common engines, avionics and drive train components. The program involves 100 UH-1N and 180 AH-1W SuperCobra helicopters. Upon completion, the AH-1W will become the AH-1Z and the UH-1N will become the UH-1Y. The AH-1Z will be manufactured from existing AH-1W aircraft while the UH-1Y will be a new-build aircraft with the exception of the first dozen aircraft which will be remanufactured from existing UH-1N helicopters.
Currently, the H-1 EMD program is about 95 percent complete with 3,000 hours of flight test on five aircraft (three AH-1Z and two UH-1Y). Operations Evaluation (OPEVAL) is planned for later this year. Bell completed the turned exhaust installation on all five test aircraft and the company is now installing it on AH-1W aircraft already in the fleet. Testing demonstrated dramatic temperature reductions on the tailboom with no degradation in handling qualities or performance.
The Bell H-1 program is now in production on assembly lines located at Bell’s 184-acre manufacturing facility located in Amarillo, Texas. The jigs and tooling are in place and the first two production AH-1Z/UH-1Y aircraft have started down the production line.
Bell began to remanufacture six UH-1N and three AH-1W helicopters to the UH-1Y and AH-1Z standard during FY04. A second LRIP (Low Rate Initial Production) lot, currently scheduled to be another six Hueys and three SuperCobras, should enter production before the end of this year.
The H-1 includes 84 percent commonality between the two aircraft including engines (GE-T700 engines), four blade all composite, hingeless, bearingless main rotor system and tail rotor, identical drive trains, hydraulics Integrated Avionics System, helmets and the electrical distribution systems. By utilizing common systems, Life Cycle Costs for the two helicopters will be dramatically reduced and will allow for vastly improved shipboard operability. Far less critical shipboard space will be needed to store spare parts and support equipment for deployed Marines operating these new aircraft.
The H-1 Program will result in 280 new aircraft for the US Marine Corps to operate beyond 2025. The AH-1Z fleet will be "zero-time" airframes remanufactured with the latest technology, while the UH-1Y fleet will be new-build aircraft. The H-1 Upgrade Program increases the speed, range, maneuverability, firepower and lift capability of both aircraft. The savings in maintenance staffing and training, ground handling and support equipment, and spare parts inventories equates to billions of dollars over the life of the program.
Current advanced technology will provide the H-1 Fleet with increased battlefield survivability and greater mission success with fewer combat losses. In addition, the crashworthiness of both the UH-1Y and the AH-1Z will be improved over current aircraft. First flight of the AH-1Z occurred in December 2000, with the UH-1Y first flight in 2001. There are three AH-1Z and two UH-1Y aircraft in flight-testing at NAS Patuxent River, MD.
Bell Helicopter is a subsidiary of Textron Inc., a $10 billion multi-industry company with 44,000 employees in 40 countries. The company leverages its global network of businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services in industries such as aircraft, fastening systems, industrial products and components and finance. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Kate, Locoing, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others. More information is available at www.textron.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From (http://www.bellhelicopter.textron.com/en/companyInfo/pressReleases/PR_2005Paris_H1.cfm)
http://www.bellhelicopter.textron.com/en/comp_info/UH_1Y.jpg