On December 18, 2017, Bell Helicopter that the V-280 Valor had completed its first flight. This milestone is an important step in the tilt-rotor’s development program. Bell Helicopter can now begin test flights. “It’s an exciting time for Belle Helicopter, and I couldn’t be prouder of the progress we have made with the first flight of the Bell V-280, ” declared the company’s President and CEO Mitch Snyder. “First flight demonstrates our commitment to supporting Department of Defense leadership’s modernization priorities and acquisition reform initiatives,” he added. The Bell V-280 Valor is Bell’s submission to the U.S. Army’s Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) phase, the technology demonstration precursor to Future Vertical Lift (FVL), a replacement for the Army’s current fleet. The V-280 benefits from the engineering resources and production power of Bell Helicopter, Lockheed Martin, GE, Moog, Moog, IAI, TRU Simulation & Training, Astronics, Eaton, GKN Aerospace, Lord, Meggitt and Spirit AeroSystems—collectively termed Team Valor.