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MAKING NOISE IN THE HELICOPTER INDUSTRY
Africa sees general aviation success with versatile Bell 429
Atlanta, GA (March 8, 2023) Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced the delivery of a Bell 429 and a signed purchase agreement for another Bell 429, both to customers in Africa. The Bell 429 is a popular choice for the African market and continues to demonstrate important qualities such as safety, reliability, and performance. The aircraft also offers a smooth, peaceful ride as well as a spacious and customizable cabin depending on mission type. "We are proud to support our customers in Africa with the Bell 429. With two now operating in South Africa and a…
Bell announces 400th Bell 505 delivery
This press release was first displayed on Vertical Mag here. Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has announced the 400th Bell 505 delivery to European customer Al Barratt, co-founder of Grenade and owner of Cotswold Aviation, both based in the United Kingdom. Joined by the Bell leadership team, Mr. Barratt received the customized Bell 505 at a delivery ceremony at Bell’s Mirabel, Canada facility. “The Bell 505 is an incredible aircraft, and we are proud to celebrate the 400th delivery to Mr. Barratt,” said LaShan Bonaparte, vice president, Commercial Sales, Bell. “The Bell 505 provides outstanding performance capabilities, modern…
Ugandan Aviation Company Signs for a Bell 412EPi
Dallas, TX (March 23, 2022) Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced a signed purchase agreement with BAR Aviation for a Bell 412EPi to support 24/7 medical evacuation missions and the new development of oil and gas projects in Uganda. BAR Aviation is a leading aviation operator in Uganda known for its high quality and professional air transport service in Uganda and the region. Among its many services, BAR Aviation provides air medical evacuation services to support communities and connect them to life-saving medical support. “We are privileged to provide BAR Aviation with exceptional Bell products to service…
Garmin’s gamechanger: Flying the 600H in the Bell 505
This article first appeared on Vertical Mag here: https://verticalmag.com/features/garmins-gamechanger-flying-the-600h-in-the-bell-505/ Gamechanger: A term commonly used by marketing folks and writers when trying to describe a new product in superlatives when they run out of words or imagination. Often, the product just isn’t. The system incorporates cyclic-mounted trim controls and new yaw trim controls on the collective to allow for ease of operation.But in the case of the Garmin GFC 600H autopilot for the Bell 505, that term seems appropriate. The big takeaway in this newly-certified product is it makes the small helicopter fly more like larger ones equipped with sophisticated autopilots and…
Bell Celebrates 60 Bell 505 Deliveries in Europe
Bell completes its 60th 505 European delivery to Montenegro Air Force Fort Worth, TX (Apr. 20, 2021) Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced the delivery of another Bell 505 to the Montenegro Air Force, making it the 60th Bell 505 aircraft in Europe. “Delivering 60 505s to Europe is an exciting milestone for Bell,” said Patrick Moulay, Senior Vice President, International Business. “This achievement is a testament to the performance of the Bell 505 and our customers’ confidence in the aircraft. Beyond the success of the Bell 505 in Europe, we see momentum in demand for the…
Bell expects 525 certification by the end of this year
Bell is optimistic it will see the Bell 525 certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this year, bringing the world’s first commercial fly-by-wire helicopter to market after a protracted 10-year development effort. According to Byron Ward, vice president of the Bell 525 program, Bell has now completed most of its certification activities apart from some “residual flight test work” and expects to turn all of the necessary certification artifacts over to the FAA by the end of June. “Then it will be off to the races with them,” Ward told Vertical in late February. Although “Bell is not making…
Bell Delivers First Bell 505 to Ugandan Aviation Company
BAR Aviation accepts the first Bell 505 with Med-Pac EMS Lite Interior in Africa Fort Worth, TX (Apr. 6, 2021) Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced the delivery of a Bell 505 helicopter equipped with the Med-Pac Inc. LLC Emergency Medical Services Lite Interior to BAR Aviation. This marks the first Bell 505 in Uganda and the first Bell 505 designed to complete medical evacuation (medevac) missions in Africa. “We are elated that BAR Aviation has chosen the Bell 505 as its Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) platform and will operate the first medevac Bell 505 in…
The Bell 412 Surpasses 40 Years of Flight
To date, there have been more than 1,100 Bell 412s delivered across the globe, logging over 6.5 million flight hours. Since the introduction of the Bell 412 in 1981, Bell has developed 11 different variants, the latest being the recently unveiled Subaru Bell 412 EPX. The evolution of the Bell 412 is a testament to the incredible flexibility and durability of the aircraft, a utility helicopter with designs originating from the world-renowned and venerable Huey. Customers continue to rely on the rugged and reliable Bell 412, which carries operators through parapublic, offshore, emergency medical and even VIP missions every day. From moving…
Air Force’s Huey the most mission ready of all U.S. military aircraft
Of all the aircraft flown by the US. military, the only type that met its mission readiness goals every year for the past decade is the Air Force’s outgoing UH-1N Huey. In a sweeping Government Accountability Office (GAO) study of mission-capable rates for 46 U.S. military aircraft between 2011 and 2019, none of the other 11 types of rotorcraft came close to matching the Huey. The GAO defines “mission capable rate,” which is used to assess the health and readiness of an aircraft fleet, as the percentage of total time when the aircraft can fly and perform at least one mission. Each…
Bell 505 Jet Ranger X Records 50,000 Global Fleet Flight Hours
Program milestone achieved with more than 260 aircraft operating globally Fort Worth, TX (22 September 2020) – Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X program has accumulated more than 50,000 flight hours. More than 260 Bell 505s are operating a variety of missions across six continents and 55 countries. Notable deliveries this year have included, Southern Utah University, Centaurium and public safety configured Bell 505s to Leon County and Alameda County. “Operators around the world continue to compliment the aircraft performance and value in adding a Bell 505 to their daily operations,” said Eric Sinusas, program…
Congratulations to BAR Aviation on their Bell 505
Congratulations to BAR Aviation on their acquisition of a Bell 505! We can’t wait to see it in country!
Bell 505 receives type acceptance in Tanzania
This article was first published at Vertical Mag here. Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, announced on July 27 the Bell 505 has been accepted by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) for airworthiness certification in the United Republic of Tanzania, making it the sixth country in Africa to certify the aircraft. “The Bell 505 is renowned the world over for delivering best-in-class value to our customers, and now, with TCAA’s type acceptance, we are excited to serve the needs of Tanzania with the latest in helicopter technology,” said Sameer Rehman, managing director for Africa and Middle East. “With superior…