Bell 427

[sprocket]

Does anyone know how many 427s have been delivered yet?

According to the Bell site, there should be some out and about by now but I have not heard or read any feedback about how they are performing etc except what Bell have stated about them.
Are they being used for any particular role?

I’m also interested in how the new PW207 engines perform as well as their maintainability.

I notice there is an info letter on the rotor blades contacting an aux. fin

http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/St...0427-00-01.pdf

[widgeon]

According to the Transport Canada site 5 have been exported so far.
Last I heard the PHI machine is still in Arlington . Not sure why it isn't operating yet , no certified floats maybe.

[407 Driver]

I hope the 427 doesn't have the same T/R and Tail Boom problems associated with the 407.

[sprocket]

widgeon: Thanks for that info. I tried the Transport Canada site but cannot find the page.


407 Driver: Has the 427 been derived from the 407 design? After reading the Just Helicopters forum, I would hope not! It seems the 427 only has a problem with the main rotor and the larger type Aux. Fin. (Ref IL 427-00-01)

With the 407 that had ‘an uncommanded left pedal hardover’, (early 1999)??? AD CF-98-36R3 dated:Mar 5, 1999 and also Ref: Emerg. AD 2001-01-52 dated: Jan 10, 2001; did investigators find the cause of the hardover?
This apparently happened just before the T/R struck the tail boom.

[widgeon]

http://www.tc.gc.ca/aviation/general...ts/ex1100e.htm


Just change the month in the last part to view other months.
Interesting the s/n of the last one exported was 56021 , means there must be 16 or so gathering dust somewhere.

[widgeon]

Any one know what is new with the program?, as far as I can see http://www.tc.gc.ca/aviation/general...ts/ex0601e.htm s/n up to 28 have been exported from Canada as of June. I saw an article that one had been sold ( delivered ?) to a customer in South America . There was also talk of orders from Korea . The TC data sheet ( R00001RC)was approved in November 2000 are there any US orders.

[Pac Rotors]

On a recent visit to ACRO I saw that they had two in the hangar that they were fitting out for a Jap customer. They had already shipped two there and were from what I understand being operated already. I have tried to get info from Bell but as normal, no response.

[widgeon]

http://member.nifty.ne.jp/AircraftJ/01Jun_e.htm

Thanks Mr Pac rotors , above link is Japanese register changes by month , 56020 ,reg JA009W , registered to Mitsui Bussan.

I am suprised Bell do not give more publicity on their sales . From all reports I have read it is a capable machine with very competitive DOC's.

[Autorotate]

Bell 427s

Has anyone heard where the numerous Bell 427s are that are out there somewhere. Heard there are a couple in the Philippines and one in Bahrain but thats all so far.

[widgeon]

2 on japan registry , I have seen pictures of a UK reg one , maybe just a demo . Most on US register all registered to Bell.

[ppheli]

There are no 427s in the UK and there has never been one on the UK register. The UK has seen demo 427s in the country for Farnborough 2000 and Helitech 2001 only.

[CTD]

427s are currently operating in China, Bahrain, Canada, US, Taiwan, The Philippines, Brazil, Japan, Israel, Greece, Denmark.

[Autorotate]

CTD

If that is BV drop me an email.

[ppheli]

Wow, if 427s are operating in that many countries, then wouldn't you expect Bell to be shouting about it with a press release?

Perhaps some of those are demo aircraft??

[Autorotate]

None of them are demo aircraft. Bahrain Police have theirs working hard and I know the ones in Manilla are working hard as well. Not sure about the others.

[CTD]

Correct, the demonstrators are extra to what I posted.

[Hippolite]

Bell to stretch 427

Rumor has it that Bell will show a "stretched" version of its slow selling 427 twin at the 2004 Heli Expo in Las Vegas.

A fuselage plug has been put in behind the cockpit giving more room in the cabin and the change to an all forward facing seating arrangement.

The 427 has been a slow seller in the Gulf of Mexico, the most likely offshore market, with no operators currently signing up for the aircraft. While there was a 427 in PHI colors at the show 3 or 4 years ago, the company never took delivery of the aircraft since no flotation system had been certified.

Other light twins, like the EC135 and MD902 have also failed to penetrate the GOM market and Bell believes that this still gives them the potential of a market share when the GOM operators start to look for light twin helicopters.

HH

[The Nr Fairy]

What are they going to call a stretched 427 ? The Long27 ? 430 ?

And if it's only a JetRanger but bigger, will it be suitable for low time pilots in a SPIFR role ?

[HeloEagle]

I also believe that one reason that they are doing the extension is for EMS. Currently the aircraft cabin is too short to accomadate a litter. It will also be interesting to see what else they have to do as it uses the same basic dynamic rotor components of the 407 but because of the higher weight of the additional engine has a higher disk loading which has hurt performance. I also understand that since it has only one hydralic system that it can not be certified for SPIFR, only dual pilot. It is a good looking ship, so hopefully they can get things straightened out.

[rotorrookie]

I know where they got the idea

Just check out this link here, I did post this pic last year under the topic "now the s-92 have a serious competitor" who would have thought they would take it so seriously

http://homepage.mac.com/helipilot/PP...ngrangerSM.jpg

I feel they should hire me for this project