From AIN today:
Bell Ramps Up 429 Output, Looks at 206 Replacement
Bell Helicopter is ramping up production of its 429 light twin and aims to have 33 off the line by year-end and more than 80 completed by the end of next year. Bell senior vice president Larry Roberts said the company is continuing to wring weight out of the helicopter, via changes in manufacturing and by pursuing regulatory solutions, and is progressing with development of a version with wheel landing gear. Bell recently announced new 429 sales in China and Japan, as well as its intention to compete for an Australian Defense Forces contract for 14 to 30 training helicopters. Roberts said the 429 is the beginning of what Bell predicts will be its resurgence in the civil sector, a strategy that will include revisions to legacy products to be announced next year. He also revealed that Bell is evaluating a replacement for the 206B-3 single, which is slated for discontinuation this year. “We think that an entry-level helicopter for a large OEM is something that needs to be considered,” he said.