Bell 427

[jupiterus]

B427

I flew the 427 in 2002 for VIP , i have about 80 hours , i am not sure it perform good , it does have same problem as 407 with Pedal stop
also a lot Avionics problems
cheers

[CGWRA]

Why did bell develop the 429? what was wrong with the 427? looking on wikipedia it looks like the 427 has a higher usefull load. Imho the 427 looks quite a bit better too.

[Shawn Coyle]

What was wrong with the 427 compared to the 429?
Single hydraulic system, no stabilization or autopilot, not nearly as much room as the 429, lower Vne and cruise speed.
And I'm sure there are more reasons.

[vfr440]

427 Limitations

Spot on Shawn. I had a peripheral input, and aside from your observations, it would have been too expensive and heavy to incorporate all the discrete requirements for Cat A systems separation, never mind overcoming all the other limitations. What it HAS done, though, is to act as a proving ground for the 429's dynamics, and to highlight areas for improvement elsewhere; fuselage,cabin, eqpt config, maintenance access, system reliability etc. Pity they do not (yet) have a wheeled version available for the corporate market - A109E may have eaten their lunch on that one ~ vfr

[Avnx EO]

it would have been too expensive and heavy to incorporate all the discrete requirements for Cat A systems separation,

Actually, the 427 is CAT-A certified by TCCA and EASA (VFR). It was not the CAT-A system separation that was the issue with the 427. It was the number of systems that had to be re-designed for IFR (electrical, hydraulic, etc.) and a cabin that would never make it for EMS. The 427 has its fuel tanks fore and aft of the passenger cabin. Bell presented a 427-derivative mock up at Heli-expo 2004 (called the 427s3i), and the cabin was a non-starter. There's no place to go if you want dual stretchers and enough room for an attendant to intubate a patient at the head of the stretcher. The aft fuel tank ended up being this "U" shapped thing to fit the stretcher with no access to the patients legs. With the 429, they basically started with a cabin designed for the EMS mission and built the aircraft around it. They kept the cockpit and most of the systems from the 427s3i concept.

[BigMike]

"and a cabin that would never make it for EMS" ... really

Alfa Helicopter - about us



Fairly easy loading with the turn-table, and complete access to the patient by 2 medical crew.

[ricksheli]

Hi Big Mike

Any chance of a couple more photo's showing the stretcher configuration, looks like you need a "turn table" type base, has this got an STC for 427?

Thanks

[BigMike]

'ricksheli' will try and dig out a few more.
EMS fit-out done by Alfa themselves. Can be reconfirgured to Charter ops in about an hour, by 3 engineers. Very good setup.

[ricksheli]

Thanks BigMike,

Presently we have A119 with factory fit EMS, but looks like single engine won't be approved into Hospital helipads from now on, so the search is on to replace with economic twin

Thanks for help

[BigMike]

Here are a few of the EMS interior by Alfa.

The 427 performs pretty well in this role. Fairly quick (120kts everywhere) and nice and responsive to fly. Easy to land in tight side streets etc. I enjoyed flying it.

[alouette]

them 427s

The fun starts if an HLO comes running and wants to load 6 passengers, but you tell him you can only take 3. "Captain you have six seats"!!!! My answer "Yes, but it's only a 3 passenger day"

[ricksheli]

Thanks Big Mike, as they say a picture paints a thousand words - looks very usable

[SuperF]

Hi Mike, are Alfa still running the 206LT? how did they go?

[BigMike]

As far as I know they still operate them. They used to have one on the Slovakian contract, with another as back-up. The pilots hated it (Too heavy) as they had L-4's before the 'Twin' requirement, which they liked.

[bellfest]

Bell 427... Opinions??

Any 427 drivers/operators out there like to share any opinions on the machine?? Overall performance, reliability, single engine performance, operating costs etc?

Any info would be greatly appreciated....

Thanks in advance.

[That lights normal!]

Still available new!

Are there any being operated in Australia currently?
Any idea of support in Oz?

There was a B427i rumoured
Were there any ever certified SPIFR?
Any fitted with AFCS?

Bell are still offering new ones for sale. Apart from extreme difficulty in ever selling, any obvious pitfalls?

Comparison with A109E?

Thanks very much for any info.
TLN

[Ian Corrigible]

Are there any being operated in Australia currently?

Not aware of any in Oz, but there's at least one in NZ

There was a B427i rumoured

Now the Bell 429

Were there any ever certified SPIFR?

Don't believe so

Bell are still offering new ones for sale.

The last few white tails, offered at steep discount (sub-407)

Apart from extreme difficulty in ever selling, any obvious pitfalls?

Just the question of future support for such a small fleet (~80).

I/C

[That lights normal!]

Thanks Ian

[blackdog7]

Bell 427 - the good, bad and ugly...

Good
Quick
Smooth
Reliable day to day
Good single engine performance
P & W engines


Bad
Unless you're Alfa, very difficult/impossible to use for medevac missions
Major parts are becoming difficult to obtain without big delays
Limited space for avionics
Poor visibility
Bell support on this product is dismal (maybe better if you buy one of the 3 new airframes still available)
Ceiling limitations
No flat floor
A face only a mother could love...

Ugly
Mast issues
Hull value is in freefall and concerns about residual value going forward.
Tech support and Parts support

BD

[heli-ho]

There is 1 429 and 2 427's in NZ.