Bell Helicopter Expanding in Amarillo, Texas

Bell Helicopter is expanding its facility in Amarillo, Texas. The $22 million expansion is scheduled to begin in July 2008 and will allow for increased production of the Bel/Boeingl V-22 Osprey and the UH-1. Ten Ospreys headed to Iraq this month. The U.S. Marine Corps plans to buy 360 Ospreys to replace the Boeing Co. CH-46 Sea Knight troop transports and CH-53D Sea Stallions. The Marine version of the Osprey costs $69.3 million, according to the Naval Air Systems Command, $110 million if all program costs are averaged into the price. In Iraq, the Osprey will be used primarily as a troop and cargo carrier as well as a standby search and rescue aircraft. For related news