GKN Aerospace has won a multi-million dollar, life-of-program contract from Bell Helicopter to develop and supply crashworthy, state-of-the-art fuel tanks for the new Bell 525 Relentless Super Medium helicopter.
These customized tanks will be manufactured using the company’s newly developed, lightweight fuel cell material. Using this material, the company is able to produce fuel tanks that weigh less than comparable in-service tanks, and also meet the rigorous performance requirements for Technical Standing Order (TSO C80) and Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR27/29).
Phil Swash, CEO, GKN Aerospace - Europe & Special Products states: “The Bell 525 Relentless program is very important to GKN Aerospace as the launch program for our innovative new fuel cell material. We believe this material establishes a technical advantage in fuel systems technology that will become the industry benchmark.”
The Bell 525 Relentless units will be manufactured at the company’s Alabama fuel systems facility. First deliveries of developmental units will be made to Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth, Texas, later this year.
GKN Aerospace has already been selected to supply key metallic and composite structures for the Bell 525 Relentless helicopter fuselage. Two GKN Aerospace North American facilities, in St. Louis, Missouri and Tallassee, Alabama are involved in this work package which includes the supply of composite and aluminum fuselage panels and structural parts for the cockpit, cabin, and tailboom of the airframe.
Source: GKN Aerospace