ZHUHAI, CHINA (November 10, 2014) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, (NYSE: TXT), announced it will showcase the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X and the Bell 525 Relentless for the first time in China at Airshow China in Zhuhai from November 11 – 14. In addition, the Bell 407GX will be available for demonstration flights.
“We are thrilled to offer our regional customers the chance to see the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X and Bell 525 Relentless mockups,” said Chris Jaran, Bell Helicopter’s vice president, China. “The popularity of the Bell 206 has spurred strong interest in the Bell 505 and we have more than 20 letters of intent signed already for this aircraft in China. “
The Bell 206 series comprises more than 40 percent of the existing Bell aircraft in service in China. The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X blends the proven systems of the Bell 206 with advanced technology and a sleek, modern design. The Garmin G1000HTM Integrated Avionics Suite provides pilots critical flight information at a glance to maximize situational awareness. Pilot workload is further reduced by the Turbomeca Arrius 2R engine with dual channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC). These features, combined with the aircraft’s high inertia rotor which deliver superior autorotation capability and a newly designed cabin seating five passengers place safety, performance and affordability at the forefront.
“The Bell 525 is also generating significant interest from our customers,” continued Jaran. “The use of rotorcraft is growing in existing and new platforms and the Bell 525 is ideal for oil and gas, search and rescue and corporate missions.”
The Bell 525 is the world’s first fly-by-wire commercial helicopter, designed to operate safely and reliably in austere environments with decreased pilot workload. The aircraft integrates critical systems data to be easily accessible at-a-glance with the first fully-integrated touch screen flight deck designed for helicopters, the Garmin G5000H. Best-in-class payload, cabin, cargo volumes, comfort and egress complement the technological advancements on the aircraft. The Bell 525 is being tested in Bell Helicopter’s fully integrated System Integration Lab (SIL), allowing for virtual flight testing of the Bell 525 before first flight, which is scheduled for early 2015.
The Bell 407GX will be available for customer demonstration flights November 11 -13. Featuring the Garmin G1000H avionics package and enhanced safety features, the Bell 407GX is adaptable to a variety of missions. An additional autopilot upgrade, featuring Heading/NAV hold, Altitude Hold and a Go-Around mode, was announced at Farnborough in July. The aircraft’s reliability, speed and performance make it the ideal aircraft of a variety of market segments.
In addition to focusing on the customer throughout the product development process, Bell Helicopter remains committed to expanding its industry-leading support and services regionally. Today, the company is hosting its ninth regional Maintainers and Operators conference in Zhuhai, which serves as an opportunity for customers in the region to meet with Bell Helicopter customer support representatives and other industry experts.
The 10th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China 2014) is held in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China from Nov. 11 – 16.
