Secretary of U.S. Air Force stresses importance of partnering with industry

FORT WORTH, Texas, 26 Aug. 2015. "Partnerships with industry are as critical today as they've ever been," Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James said, stressing the importance of government and defense agencies working closely with technology firms. Officials at Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company in Fort Worth, hosted James, who appreciated seeing “firsthand the capabilities and advancements being developed to address future national security needs."

Bell Helicopter leaders gave Secretary James a company overview and an update on both the V-22 helicopter and V-280 Valor tiltrotor programs.

The V-22 Osprey is a multimission, tiltrotormilitary aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft.

The V-280 Valor is the company’s entrant into Future Vertical Lift program for the United States Armed Forces.

Secretary James experienced a V-280 tiltrotor avionics simulator and a tour through the Bell Helicopter advanced composite center.

“We were delighted to host the Secretary and honored to have the opportunity to show her in person the work Bell Helicopter is performing every day on current and future tiltrotor platforms,” says Bell Helicopter President and CEO John Garrison. “The V-22 continues to redefine what is possible in military operations, and we are grateful to the Secretary for making time in her schedule to see firsthand where this transformative technology takes shape at our Fort Worth campus.”