GKN Aerospace has been selected to provide Bell Helicopter with key metal and composite structures across the new 525 Relentless helicopter fuselage.
This major work package includes composite and aluminium fuselage panels and structural parts installed in the cockpit, cabin and tailboom. Manufacture will begin in late 2012 with initial deliveries scheduled for 2013 and continuing through to the end of 2015.
Two GKN Aerospace North American facilities, in St. Louis, Mo. and Tallassee, Ala., will undertake the manufacture of these components and assemblies. The St Louis site will supply complex machined aluminium bulkheads, frames and spars and the Tallassee site will produce composite structure including skins, bulkheads and frame assemblies.
“GKN Aerospace engineers have worked closely with the Bell Helicopter team through the structural design phase of this program. Together we have met the demanding weight and performance requirements for structures and assemblies that will equip this airframe from tip to tail – and whose manufacture will exploit our expertise across composite manufacture and metal machining,” Kevin Cummings, CEO – GKN Aerospace, North America commented. “We are extremely proud to play our part in the creation of this first in a new class of ‘Super Medium’ helicopters.”
The 525 Relentless brings new capability to the new super-medium class by combining best-in-class performance characteristics and passenger amenities, with fly-by-wire flight controls, a touch screen avionics suite and Bell Helicopter’s new tail boom technology.