Moog to Collaborate on Bell Air Taxi

December 10, 2018

William Kucinski

Forth Worth, Texas-based Bell Helicopter , a subsidiary of Textron Inc. , will collaborate with Elma, New York-based Moog , for the development of the Flight Control Actuation System (FCAS) to support Bell’s vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft and on-demand mobility (ODM) solutions.

In this collaboration, Bell will lead the design, development, and production of the VTOL systems, while Moog will lead the design and development of the flight control actuation systems which includes architecture, hardware, and software needed for air vehicle flight control actuation management.

“Bell continues to identify solutions and teammates that will achieve new possibilities together,” says Bell’s Scott Drennan, vice president of Innovation. “Within this collaboration, Moog will ensure an advanced, fully integrated actuation system which will provide a safe, reliable and affordable solution for our aircraft.”

Ralph Elbert, group vice president & GM Moog Aircraft, states, “We are absolutely delighted that Moog has been selected by Bell to partner on this exciting program to explore and develop the on-demand mobility market. Moog’s role will include providing the all-electric, fly-by-wire actuators and electronics used to direct and control the aircraft’s propulsion system and aero-surfaces.”

As it currently stands, Safran will provide the hybrid propulsion systems and Garmin will integrate the avionics and the vehicle management computer (VMC) systems; EPS will provide the energy storage systems, and Thales will lead the flight controls system.

William Kucinski is content editor at SAE International, Aerospace Products Group in Warrendale, Pa. Previously, he worked as a writer at the NASA Safety Center in Cleveland, Ohio and was responsible for writing the agency’s System Failure Case Studies. His interests include literally anything that has to do with space, past and present military aircraft, and propulsion technology.

Contact him regarding any article or collaboration ideas by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..