Bell 525 Relentless
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Waltham Abbey, Essex, UK
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Do they have a flying prototype or was that just a mock up / concept?
When Garrison was specifically asked whether metal had been cut on the prototype he effectively refused to aswer which seemed to suggest no.
With a first flight in just two years I would have expected that something had been 'cut' ..... the mock up probably used existing parts for the 'finished' items like u/c.
When Garrison was specifically asked whether metal had been cut on the prototype he effectively refused to aswer which seemed to suggest no.

With a first flight in just two years I would have expected that something had been 'cut' ..... the mock up probably used existing parts for the 'finished' items like u/c.
There is no doubt Bell are long over due in the civil arena for such an aircraft, but the cynic in me says they are pushing a product they cannot deliver until well after AW and EC get there girls on line 
I mean certification for a plank cockpit? Years....

I mean certification for a plank cockpit? Years....

SAS, and various gentlemen ...
World Wide Words: Proof of the pudding
They also say that "The proof of the whiskey is in the flame!"
Well, they do where I'm from.
The answer to this was provided later ...
Yes it did, cyclic on the RH side. RAH-66 also had no rudder pedals. Save weight but added a required monkey skill of "wrist twist" for anti-torque control.
Bell has retained rudder pedals. Wonder why they did that? (Hmm, perhaps due to its not being a DoD contract? :-)
Yes, but then it wouldn't look as cool as an S-76. (The Lappos influence seems a valid assumption ...)
They may be relying on some political muscle for US cert, and once US cert, some momentum for other certs ... but I agree with your point.
It appears that they won't be 'first in" at this point.
But....the proof is in the pudding as they say!
They also say that "The proof of the whiskey is in the flame!"

... after all these years of happiness over having your hand in your crotch all day long and getting paid for it, how the heck are you supposed to get used to this Airbus stick
Is this a result of Mr. Lappos's involvement with Bell?? Sure looks like a 76, and didn't the RAH-66 have fly-by-wire....
Bell has retained rudder pedals. Wonder why they did that? (Hmm, perhaps due to its not being a DoD contract? :-)
Retracting into the fuselage takes up space (which could be used for fuel or baggage) and lots of weight for complex undercarriage. A pair of sponsons would both widen the track for stability, and simplify the retraction and associated ironmongery.
There is no doubt Bell are long over due in the civil arena for such an aircraft, but the cynic in me says they are pushing a product they cannot deliver until well after AW and EC get there girls on line
I mean certification for a plank cockpit? Years....
I mean certification for a plank cockpit? Years....
It appears that they won't be 'first in" at this point.
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Companion ways yes SAS, I knew the answer before I asked. Just pointing out that not having pilot access doors is not all that unusual. The swivel seats are for standard ingress/egress, and it looks to be much easier than a S-92 normal ingress/egress via the companion way. The big windows are jettisonable for emergency egress.
They may be relying on some political muscle for US cert.
Nice to see what a little product launch can do to Textron's share price!
Close of business Friday:

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The cockpit has certainly come a long way since the first baby Bell with the throttle twist grip on top of the cyclic, collective control by vertical movement of a lever sticking out of the instrument panel, and directional control by lateral movement of the collective lever.
Looks nice, and agree looks 76ish on steroids.
Looks nice, and agree looks 76ish on steroids.
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Is it just me or are the 'Professionals' on here being a little unrealistic?
It's a medium twin helicopter!
Hello! It's going to bear some resemblance to other medium twin helicopters. Does an Airbus not have some similarities to a Boeing?
It's a Bell!
Hello! It's going to bear some resemblance to (and probably share some parts with) other Bell's. Does an EC130 not have some similarities to an AS350?
It's nice to share opinions and even a little speculation and banter but some of the 'Statements of Fact' on here would make us think you've had first hand contact with the design process. Not surprisingly, some have already been proved dead wrong (SASless et al) and no doubt others will be.
Not surprisingly, those that have actually been present at the launch have made the most clued up posts and all seem to genuinely like the product. Lets hear more from them and less from the armchair experts.
Fantastic work Bell. Keep it up and lets judge it as each phase is completed and revealed rather than before.
Carry on
It's a medium twin helicopter!
Hello! It's going to bear some resemblance to other medium twin helicopters. Does an Airbus not have some similarities to a Boeing?
It's a Bell!
Hello! It's going to bear some resemblance to (and probably share some parts with) other Bell's. Does an EC130 not have some similarities to an AS350?
It's nice to share opinions and even a little speculation and banter but some of the 'Statements of Fact' on here would make us think you've had first hand contact with the design process. Not surprisingly, some have already been proved dead wrong (SASless et al) and no doubt others will be.
Not surprisingly, those that have actually been present at the launch have made the most clued up posts and all seem to genuinely like the product. Lets hear more from them and less from the armchair experts.
Fantastic work Bell. Keep it up and lets judge it as each phase is completed and revealed rather than before.
Carry on
Sans, is that an S-76 that was used to try out some of the FBW controls for RAH-66? My memory seems to put that association together, but I am not sure why.
Last edited by Lonewolf_50; 14th Feb 2012 at 20:25.
B1...when we get to seeing part numbers on this 525....we shall see how much 214ST stuff is there. I shall not be surprised to see some. Do recall Bell 47 parts were incorporated on 205,212, and 412 aircraft models.
It is easy to prove one wrong when one is putting forth satirical talk. I applaud you for being able to do so.
It is easy to prove one wrong when one is putting forth satirical talk. I applaud you for being able to do so.
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Who's #1 this year?