Bell vows improvement
 

Tired of Second Place, Bell Helicopter Vows Improvement

Mar. 8 - Bell Helicopter is in a rut. It has been a distant second in worldwide civil helicopter sales for five consecutive years.

When the world helicopter industry gathers in Las Vegas next week, a lot of people will want to hear that management has a plan for introducing products that will fire up sales.

Bell Chief Executive Mike Redenbaugh says he won't disappoint. For the first time in years, he said in a recent interview, Bell has more to offer its customers than vague promises.

In 1996, Bell produced 49 percent of the world's new civil helicopters but, since then, even Bell officials concede Bell has been pounded by archrival Eurocopter. Just 31 percent of the new helicopters produced last year came from Bell.

Eurocopter has introduced new or substantially upgraded models. Bell hasn't.


Although Bell won't unveil an all-new helicopter model, Redenbaugh says he will announce a plan for developing new and improved models at the Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo trade show Sunday.

Sources within Bell say engineers are working on three projects that could lead to improved aircraft within a couple of years:



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Hmm...

One of those improved products will be a stretched 427 displayed at HAI.

HH:cool:

Although Bell won't unveil an all-new helicopter model ......


I'd heard Bell was on the verge of announcing a new 12 seat model based on the Huey body, and aimed at the mil/law enforrcenment markets.

Anyone know anything?

Well, if you can call a 40-year-old aircraft "new", you might believe it.

The Bell 210 will be an old Huey which has been factory rebuilt to civilian standards - sort-of 205, if you wish - and come out zero-timed. Garlicks might have cause to be worried, though their product will always be cheaper than a factory rebuild.

Gives Bell something to do with those thousands of old Hueys which can only be Restricted category otherwise.