Bell Tiltrotor Aircraft
Bell Helicopter Textron
Bell D-326 Clipper

Even after the initial successes of the XV-15 , engineers at Bell continued to dream up designs for tiltrotors, some of which can be found here.


D-301
Description
Project Engineer
Date
VTOL tilt rotor operational demonstrator Ken Wernicke 6-18-1971
Military derivative of Model 301, referred to as D301, is shown in this illustration. Design would be optimized for armed rescue operations. Bell Helicopter Textron 005120
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D-302
Description
Project Engineer
Date
NASA conceptual design study tilt rotor Jack DeTore 9-19-1971
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D-303
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Using the same amount of fuel as a helicopter, able to fly twice as fast and twice as far. Design is for ideal use on the North Sea. Projected to be operational by 1990.
  • Unloaded Weight: 5,460 kg.
  • Capacity: 16-20 passengers
  • Application Equipment (6,087 kg.): snow and ice removal, pressure ventilation, emergency equipment, additional avionics
  • Crew Weight: 154 kg.
  • 16 Passengers' Weight: 1452 kg.
  • Fuel and Oil Weight: 1,374 kg.
Unknown Circa 1981(?)
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D-305
Description
Project Engineer
Date
COD/VOD tilt rotor proposal Jack DeTore 8-28-1972
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D-310
Description
Project Engineer
Date
HX study for Navy tilt rotor aircraft Jack DeTore 3-22-1974
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D-311
Description
Project Engineer
Date
HX study for Marine tilt rotor Jack DeTore 3-22-1974
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D-312-100, -45, -21
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Tilt rotor VTOL commercial transport Jack DeTore 5-10-1974
The D312-45 is just one of a number of D312 configurations that Bell had proposed for VTOL commercial transport operations. Bell Helicopter Textron
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D-313-100, -45
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Tilt rotor STOL commercial transport Jack DeTore 5-10-1974
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D-314A
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Tiltrotor Army Spectrum study. Designed for ground support and FAC duties. Engle 5-12-1975
Bell Helicopter Textron 300084
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D-314B
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Tiltrotor Army Spectrum study. Engle 5-12-1975
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D-314C
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Tiltrotor Army Spectrum study. A light transport. Engle 5-12-1975
Bell Helicopter Textron 300080
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D-314D
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Tiltrotor Army Spectrum study. Designed for duties similar to those of the Grumman OV-1 Mohawk. Engle 5-12-1975
Bell Helicopter Textron 300082
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D-314E
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Tiltrotor Army Spectrum study. An uprated version of the D-314C and which is technically a medium lift transport. Engle 5-12-1975
Bell Helicopter Textron 300081
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D-314F
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Tiltrotor Army Spectrum study. Designed for ground attack duties. Engle 5-12-1975
Bell Helicopter Textron 300085
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D-314F (low-wing version)
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Tiltrotor Army Spectrum study. Designed for ground attack duties. Engle 5-12-1975
Bell Helicopter Textron 300079
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D-314G
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Tiltrotor Army Spectrum study. Carries an onboard side looking airborne radar and other sensor units for OV-1-type operations. Engle 5-12-1975
Bell Helicopter Textron 300083
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D-315A, B
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Tilt rotor HXM aircraft conceptual design study Jack DeTore 10-8-1975
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D-316
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Air Force combat rescue mission tilt rotor aircraft Jack DeTore 11-30-1976
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D-317
Description
Project Engineer
Date
ASH tilt rotor aircraft Jack DeTore 11-30-1976
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D-318
Description
Project Engineer
Date
LAMPS tilt rotor aircraft Jack DeTore 11-30-1976
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D-319A, A-1, A(P), B, B(Q), C, D
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Tilt rotor conceptual designs (resulting from Navy R.F.Q./I.) Jack DeTore 5-30-1978
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D-320
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Tilt rotor conceptual designs for the U.S.A.F. rescue mission analysis Jack DeTore 5-30-1978
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D-321
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Tilt rotor conceptual design for the V/STOL-A (pre-R.F.Q. activity) Jack DeTore 5-30-1978
This aircraft is optimized for Naval shipborne operations and has a rotating wing for storage ease. Bell Helicopter Textron 018101
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D-322
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Heavy lift quad rotor (resulting NASA inquiry) Jack DeTore 2-19-1979
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D-323
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Marine assault tilt rotor
Features include:
  • Four interconnected PLT 27 D Engines
  • Composite rotors
  • Rotor, wing, and tail folding
  • Tactical and weather radar
  • Helmet controlled 7.62 mm turret
  • CH-46 cabin size
  • 12.7 mm ballistic tolerance
  • 23 mm HEI survivability
Jack DeTore 2-19-1979

Click here to see folding sequence of D-323

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D-324
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Navy Type A V/STOL Jack DeTore 2-19-1979
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D-325
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Navy Jack DeTore 1979
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D-326 Clipper
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Commercial Tiltrotor
Specifications include:
  • General Electric CT-64 Engine
  • Design gross weight: 37,000 lbs.
  • Operational weight empty: 24,740 lbs.
  • Crew (3): 510 lbs.
  • Passengers (30): 6,000 lbs.
  • Fuel: 5,750 lbs.
  • Long range cruise speed (20,000 ft.): 290 knots
  • Radius (45 minute reserve, 5% conservative): 300 nautical miles
  • Hover ceiling, OGE, ISA + 20º: 1,000 ft.
  • Maximum range (16 passengers, max. internal fuel, 25,000 ft., 30-min. reserve): 1,330 nautical miles
Unknown January 1980
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BAT (Bell Advanced Tiltrotor)
Description
Project Engineer
Date
Developed as a proposal for the Army's 1984 LHX light helicopter program. It was rejected since it could not meet the weight requirements. Rotor diameter: 4.87 meters. Unknown 1984
Mock-up of BAT
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    Sources:
  • "Bell XV-15" Aerophile. October 1979: 2-21.
  • Brown, David A. The Bell Helicopter Textron Story. Arlington, TX: Aerofax, Inc., 1995.
  • Flug Revue. April 1982: 72.
  • Interavia. August 1981: 748.
  • Interavia. August 1983: 816.
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