The Vertical Space
The Vertical Space
Jim Barry, Peter Shannon & Luka Tomljenovic
#86 Carey Cannon: 38 years of rotorcraft development – insights from a Bell Senior Chief Engineer
1 hour 18 minutes Posted Feb 11, 2025 at 11:00 am.
Time and capital to develop a modern helicopter
Building an engineering organization for success
Getting into aviation
Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA)
EagleEye and Fire Scout
UAS enabling technologies in the 1990s
The more things change, the more they stay the same
Energy storage
The evolution of propulsion systems
The innovator's dilemma at Bell
Pursuing innovation at the small scale
Building defensibility in aerospace
Small hybrid propulsion systems
Evolution of engineering tools
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Show notes
In this episode, retired Senior Chief Engineer Carey Cannon shares his 38-year journey at Bell Helicopter, talking about the realities of developing and deploying vertical lift aircraft. He discusses why many eVTOL manufacturers underestimate the time and cost required, why getting in the air is the easy part, and the enduring principles of helicopter design. Carey reflects on key programs like the V280 and EagleEye, the technology gaps he encountered, and the biggest technical and commercial...