From the Bell website:

http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/com...9RapidPace.cfm

http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/com...29rotor1st.cfm

Looks like Big Mike summed it up well. Concept demonstrator has flown with the rotor system and other component development tests have been conducted. First full test aircraft to fly later this year according to the press release.

Bell 429
 

What is the latest news on the Bell 429

Rumor has it that Air Methods backed out of buying the first 15 or so off the line.
It seems as if Eurocopter is getting more appealing.

First flight?
 

I see Bell have the first a/c out at Mirabel.....Any news or bets on it flying later this month in time for Heliexpo?

Bell 429 continues to impress in flight test.
 

For those nay-sayers who claimed Bell's 429 first flight was only for show... Not only is she continuing test ... but she reached over 150 knots today.... Very smooth I'm told.:cool:

For the first "official" photo of the Bell 429 GlobalRanger's maiden flight in February, visit the French website Helimat or click on the thumbnail below.

http://helimat.free.fr/2007/02/429/B...ight_small.jpg
Photo Source: Helimat

I find it a bit peculiar that two independent websites in France have more information about the first prototype getting airborne on their websites than Bell Helicopters has on its official Bell website... :confused:

I agree... the media relations are more than a bit odd on this one....

I suspect that given the recent CEO swap at Bell, that the PR organization is still trying to find its feet.

"I suspect that given the recent CEO swap at Bell, that the PR organization is still trying to find its feet."

I suspect that they are trying to find much more than that.:rolleyes:

EO - When you're sitting at your desk on Friday, why not call your VP of Communications and ask him to publish a story?

:confused:

Where was the 429 @ HAI?
 

Does anyone know why the 429 moc up was absent from HAI in Orlando?

The Bell booth was looking a bit sparse with two 407 on the big floor, definitly not a confidence builder for potential buyers.

One can only assume that the "stop and think again" order on the ARH is giving the PR guys something to think about this week. But that said, the 429 first flight and 417 cancellation never appeared at Heli-Expo as releases.....

And those photos on Helimat site are NOT copyright Helimat but copyright Rotor International and/or their employee Yves-Armel Collinot - check the text at the bottom of this page and you will see what I mean

The first flight of the 429 and the demise of the 417 may not have hit a conventional paper release from Bell but they were announced by company representatives at the company press conference on February 28 and effectively first appeared in paper form in the Show Dailies.

Perhaps this latest announcement is the Bell PR Dept realising that the paper trail was missing something!

Mmmmm` ......

And of course we're going to believe EVERYTHING that "them good 'ol boys" at Bell tell us ............. right!!!! :hmm:

:E

Nowhere was it stated that they were copyright Helimat. Helimat was merely mentioned as the source of the image.

Every day last week at the Avalon Airshow I've been having a quiet smoke round the back of the expo next to a very large wooden box stencilled "Bell 429, This Way UP"........It doesn't take much to amuse me these days.

I could see there was a helicopter in there but it never came out of the box! I did wonder, as the temperature hit 35 on Thursday, whether perhaps they'd brought it over for early does-it-melt-in-a-box trials.

Anybody think of a good reason why you would ship a helicopter 8,000 miles and not at least show it some Australian sunshine? Seems a bit cruel to me.

JerryG

Maybe Nectar Points!!

That said, no different from MBJ's legs, they travelled 8000 miles and never saw the sun..... There is a god!

Cheers

Rushes :ok:

I believe the mock-up inside was found to be damaged from shipping when opened up, so was not displayed. Dropped on the whalf?

Bell 429 opinions
 

Considering joining the queue, interested to hear thoughts, comparisons to existing ships or rumors (especially those who were at HAI)? Thanks

Bell 429 GlobalRanger certification delayed until 2009
 

Disappointing news - it looks like the GlobalRanger has slipped by another year. Something must have cropped up over the last 4 months, since the Bell Helicopter team at HAI was gung-ho about delivering the first ship by the end of the year.


Bell Helicopter Concludes Successful Farnborough
Monday, July 21, 2008 / Bell Helicopter

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, wrapped up a successful Farnborough Air Show this week by adding 24 orders across the full range of its product line as it hosted over 1,000 guests in its new chalet.

"Without exception Bell sees significant demand for our products and our recent product line rationalization continues to resonate with our customers," said Bob Fitzpatrick, Bell's senior vice president marketing and sales.

"The 412 led the way this year at Farnborough as we increased our funded backlog to new heights. Customers recognize the strengths each of our products bring to their market segments and value the Bell support that comes with those products." said Danny Maldonado, vice president of commercial business development.

During Farnborough Bell continued to receive positive product reviews of the 429 as the backlog swelled to over 300. Customer anticipation is building as the company anticipates achieving certification in early 2009.

Yes it is late... but ...

The certification spoken of may be EASA Certification bearing in mind that the news related to an EASA area show. That still shows a slight slip from December but fits in with statements made to the press in Prague during May.