Keeping Promises and Full Transparency
While I respect and admire the engineering and manufacturing team work working on the SB-1, the top executives at both Sikorsky and Boeing have conducted themselves poorly.
The facts are as follows;
Sikorsky/Lockheed and Boeing are the two largest defense contractors in the world. Bell/Textron is ranked about number 11 in the US.
The combined man power and financial assets of Sikorsky/Lockheed and Boeing are an order of magnitude greater than Bell/Textron.
Bell prior to FVL contract signing requested approximately eight additional months to achieve first flight. The extension was rejected based on Sikorsky and Boeing’s promises that they could meet the contract date of first flight in fall of 2017.
While the SB-1 rotor blades have been highlighted as the cause of the program delays, it does not take great effort to realize that based on late design reviews and delivery of major assemblies the entire program has been running a year behind schedule.
Bell has been transparent with the V-280 progress throughout the program. The SB-1 has been shrouded in secrecy except for when missing a milestone become obvious to the public.
Which aircraft is best still needs to be determined. But as far as keeping promises and transparency, Bell deserves to brag.