Originally Posted by
Professor Bublinsky
I'll be sorry to see the Bell 429 go, it's a very capable aircraft. The 902 has seen its day it would of struggled in the temperature this last summer.
The 902 has proven itself an excellent safe & capable hems aircraft over the last decade or so, but the more space you provide the more kit/people they will add. It’s hard to go ‘back’ to a 902 once crews have got used to carrying an extra crew member and additional kit. The 429 is perhaps a marginal step up from a 207 engined 902 at best - it uses the same engines! It’s essentially a more expensive slightly larger 902. If you’re going to spend the extra money you may as well get a 145/169 and reap the real benefits of additional power and space.