Bell 505 Jet Ranger X
Grey .... I'm sad for you that you are not filthy rich . Really I am ! But that is no excuse for that chip on your shoulder . I have owned and operated helicopters for 38 years . Everything from Bell 47 , 206 , MD500 , 480,
350 and 109 . What they have all had in common was that they were OLD !! Nothing wrong with that but I just wanted to have something that I could climb into in the morning and push the start without praying that no lights come up !!!!! No surprise costs for 3 whole years ...... Bliss !! I have only had one maintenance shocker in all those years so think myself lucky . Even my old 109 , which is coming out with new annual on Monday , has been pretty reliable and reasonable costs . Sadly I will have to sell her before the 505 arrives . A whole lot of helicopter for the money !!!
Lastly , my mistake , the 505 day is 21st of this month and I promise to report what I find regardless ..... Warts and all !! It really doesn't matter a lot to me if it disappoints as I can sell it for a healthy profit and keep my lovely 109 !! But I am hoping I love it and keep it for years ......
350 and 109 . What they have all had in common was that they were OLD !! Nothing wrong with that but I just wanted to have something that I could climb into in the morning and push the start without praying that no lights come up !!!!! No surprise costs for 3 whole years ...... Bliss !! I have only had one maintenance shocker in all those years so think myself lucky . Even my old 109 , which is coming out with new annual on Monday , has been pretty reliable and reasonable costs . Sadly I will have to sell her before the 505 arrives . A whole lot of helicopter for the money !!!
Lastly , my mistake , the 505 day is 21st of this month and I promise to report what I find regardless ..... Warts and all !! It really doesn't matter a lot to me if it disappoints as I can sell it for a healthy profit and keep my lovely 109 !! But I am hoping I love it and keep it for years ......
Interesting, Can anyone shed light on real world experience of external load capacity? According to the specs 900kgs is within the limits with 75litres of fuel & an 80kg pilot, but that’s just website specs & I doubt an operational aircraft would lift 900kgs. Even so, if it can repeat 800kgs all day it’ll compete with a B2.
Join Date: May 2010
Location: New Zealand
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Interesting, Can anyone shed light on real world experience of external load capacity? According to the specs 900kgs is within the limits with 75litres of fuel & an 80kg pilot, but that’s just website specs & I doubt an operational aircraft would lift 900kgs. Even so, if it can repeat 800kgs all day it’ll compete with a B2.
Considering its a Long Ranger with a different body then it should be good, and the LR is pretty honest in what it can do.
I agree with what you say about the LR . That is what i saw as the major benefit of using the L4 as the basis of this aircraft ....it is honest and solid . I also agree with those that would have liked to see a whole new drive train for the 505 ..maybe with 4 blades etc . That would have been nice BUT it would effectively be a smaller place 407 and would definitely have been double the price !! They have been very clever getting this onto the market for such an unbelievably low price and the two blade system is the price you pay for this economy . Having said that how many problems do you hear about the L4 with mast bumping ??
I have just heard from a friend who has picked his 505 up in the UK and is thrilled . Just over 120 Knots cruise a MAUW and 125-128Knots just two up .
He didnt opt for the damper and says the ride is pretty smooth at all speeds but not as smooth as with the damper but saves about 30kg which he thinks is a good trade .
I have just heard from a friend who has picked his 505 up in the UK and is thrilled . Just over 120 Knots cruise a MAUW and 125-128Knots just two up .
He didnt opt for the damper and says the ride is pretty smooth at all speeds but not as smooth as with the damper but saves about 30kg which he thinks is a good trade .
I hear from Bell that it is definitely 900Kg on the hook , so presume the lifting boys will go for light weight machines and maybe take doors and seats out ?
But pretty impressive all the same !
But pretty impressive all the same !
Nigel,
Does your 505 purchase cost include a set of paper maintenance manuals? Or would it have been a separate cost? Bell used to offer a Maintenance Kit of manuals as part of the sale price but can't determine if they still do. Especially with the advent of digital publications now. Any input would be appreciated.
W1
Does your 505 purchase cost include a set of paper maintenance manuals? Or would it have been a separate cost? Bell used to offer a Maintenance Kit of manuals as part of the sale price but can't determine if they still do. Especially with the advent of digital publications now. Any input would be appreciated.
W1
Wrench ...... I'm afraid I have no idea but will find out !!
Just had a message from a friend who is ex mil commercial pilot and he flew one yesterday . All I got from him was that he loved it , it was very smooth and he cruised very comfortably @ 122knots with 4 up and fullish fuel .
Just had a message from a friend who is ex mil commercial pilot and he flew one yesterday . All I got from him was that he loved it , it was very smooth and he cruised very comfortably @ 122knots with 4 up and fullish fuel .
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Online pubs are available free to the owner of any registered Bell helicopter, and i guess that you could print a complete set if required.
Our engineers normally print the relevant pages for whatever they are working on, when they need them. That way we know that the manuals being used at the time of the inspection are correct and up to date. When printing from the website, it has the revision number and date on it, and you can get it to print the date that you are printing the pages as well. That makes it really handy for audits, etc, or if there is a question in the future, you go back to the work pack and the actual pages that you worked from are there for you.
Lastly , my mistake , the 505 day is 21st of this month and I promise to report what I find regardless ....
TTB