Bell D-292

D-292

Role	Experimental helicopter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Bell Helicopter
First flight	30 August 1985
Number built	1
Developed from	Bell 222

The Bell D-292 was an American experimental helicopter developed by Bell Helicopters for the United States Army Advanced Composite Airframe Program (ACAP) as part of the studies involved in the Light Helicopter Experimental (LHX) program.

Design and development

The Bell D-292 was developed under the US Army's Advanced Composite Airframe Program (ACAP) which was a project to develop an all-composite helicopter fuselage considerably lighter and less costly to build than predominantly metal airframes in support of the LHX program.^[1]^[2] In February 1981, contracts were awarded to Sikorsky and Bell Helicopters, with Sikorsky submitting the S-75.^[3] Both companies were to build three airframes, one tool-proof article, one static-test article and a flight-test vehicle.^[3]

The Bell D-292 used the Avco Lycoming engines, transmission, two-bladed main and tail rotors, tailboom, vertical fin, and rotor pylon from the Bell 222. The new airframe replaced metal with composites for greater strength, reduced weight and both lower manufacturing and maintenance costs.

The D-292 serial number 85-24371 flew for the first time on 30 August 1985^[4] following delays due to funding and industrial problems.^[3]

Specifications

General characteristics

Crew: 4
Length: 40 ft 5 in (12.32 m)
Height: 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m)
Empty weight: 5,765 lb (2,615 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 7,485 lb (3,395 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Avco Lycoming LTS 101-750C-1 turboshaft, 684 hp (510 kW) each
Main rotor diameter: 42 ft 0 in (12.80 m)

References

Notes

↑ Harding 1997
↑ Historic US Army Helicopters
1 2 3 "Bell admits ACAP delays". Flight International. 1985-01-12.
↑ "Bell ACAP takes off". Flight International: 9. 1985-09-21.

Bibliography

Harding, Stephen (1997). U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947. Atglen, PA, USA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-933424-53-1.

Aircraft produced by Bell Aircraft and Bell Helicopter

Manufacturer designations	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 35 36 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 47 48 49 50 52 54 58 59 60 61 65 66 67 68 200 201 204 205 206 207 208 210 211 209 212 214/214ST 222 230 249 301 309 400 407 409 412 417 427 429 430 440 445 449 505 525 533 D-188 D-255 D-292

Fighter aircraft	YFM-1 Airacuda P-39 Airacobra XFL Airabonita P-59 Airacomet P-63 Kingcobra XP-77 XP-83

Target drones	PQM-56

Attack helicopters	207 AH-1 (singles) AH-1 (twins) 309 YAH-63

Observation and utility helicopters	H-13 Sioux UH-1 Iroquois UH-1N UH-1Y TH-57 OH-58 Kiowa TH-67 Creek ARH-70 Arapaho

Commercial helicopters	47 204 205 206 210 212 214 214ST 222 230 407 412 427 429 430 505 525

Tiltrotors	V-22 Osprey V-247 V-280 BA609 TR918 QTR

UAVs	MQ-8C

Non-production helicopters	400 417 440

Experimental aircraft	ATV 201 533 D-188 D-255 D-292 L-39 LLRV/LLTV X-1 X-2 X-5 X-14 X-22 XF-109 XP-52 XV-3 XV-15

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