Bell makes world's first ever aircraft with folding rotors and jet engines

In a major breakthrough for military aviation, Bell Textron is building the world’s first aircraft with folding rotors and jet engines.

Designed as part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s SPRINT program, the new machine is intended to take off like a helicopter and fly like a jet.

It combines vertical lift capabilities with impressive speed, tackling a challenge that has long faced aerospace engineers.

While still in development, Bell’s futuristic X-plane is already turning heads.

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Using folding rotors to go fast without a runway

The Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) program was launched by DARPA in 2023 with a clear mission: create an aircraft that can lift off vertically like a helicopter but cruise at jet-like speeds.

But what’s the point?

Well, runways might not always be available in conflict zones.

And while helicopters have traditionally filled the gap, they aren’t exactly speed demons.

The goal was to hit 518 mph, which leaves even the fastest helicopters in the dust.

With that in mind, Bell’s winning concept is a real head-turner.

It features large folding rotors that spin to provide vertical lift during takeoff, then stop midflight, fold back, and tuck neatly out of the way.

It’s a bit like a tiltrotor with a magician’s flair.

Once airborne, it likely switches over to jet propulsion.

We say ‘likely’, because Bell Textron is keeping those details hush-hush for now.

One testing phase away from hitting the skies

The rotor system, which is key to the aircraft’s party trick, has already passed wind tunnel tests at Holloman Air Force Base and Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research.

The tests showed it performs just as intended, especially during the tricky transition from vertical lift to forward flight.

Plus, the folding rotors are designed to produce minimal downwash and keep the aircraft’s radar signature low, which are handy features for any stealthy operation.

Bell Textron is currently in Phase 2 of the SPRINT program, where they’ll build and ground-test the aircraft.

If things go smoothly, Phase 3 will see it take to the skies.

While DARPA’s focus is on tech development rather than building a full production aircraft, Bell Textron seems to have bigger plans.

With a scalable design and real-world applications in mind, this flying transformer could be just the beginning.

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