New Bell Helicopter Program?
 

Bell has announced the formal launch of 'Magellan', formerly known as Project X. See here for details:

Sky Talk: Bell launching new helicopter program

There is not much detail on the product, but it will be interesting to see if it is expected to compete against the AW139, EC175 and S76D.

About f****ng time for the dinosaur to wake up.

Not having finished my first coffee of the morning, I have to wonder if they're considering a 419... wouldn't that compete fairly directly with the 407?

Wot no new huey ?
One would assume if they launched 419 they would discontinue 407 . It is funny that Agusta's attempt at this has not been a great success ( or are the more 119 around then I think ).
Are they even considering a low end 206 replacement ( Ec120 competitior ) ?.

Sounds like a PR push to get everyone fired up prior to HeliExpo.
The Bell communique states:

"An official program tasked with bringing a new prduct to the marketplace in response to our future customers needs."
Question, how do you know who your future customers are let alone what they will need? Try finding out why a lot of your existing customers have gone to Eurocopter.
and:
"Represents the collaboration of a dedicated cross functional team of internal and external resources"
and:
"Many individuals with skill sets and exceptional talent will begin the exciting mission of developing a new product to meet the mission of developing a new product to meet the mission needs of our commercial operators."
Question, This is a new concept? Shouldn't you have been doing this since day one?

I guess we are not going to be sure until March..... [HAI]... big noise... clouds of smoke and a new project.... but there is plenty of room here on this thread for a few wild guesses....

How about a three engined UH-1 with 20 seats. The Bell ExtraHuey 101....

I guess its more likely to be a 139 competitor but with the US preferring the single perhaps that guess about a 119 competitor may not be off beam. The 119 did not work over-well in Europe or Stateside so its now off to the Far East [India China] to chance its arm.... 1970s rooted technology with a single engine did not work for Bell so why did Agusta go there as well?

Never really sure why Bell did not stick to the 417 [re-engined 407] and a quick fix even after the military ditched it.... looks like there is a Middle East market interest... and now there is that Eagle conversion of a 407 around to entice them. Most times someone brings out a Bell conversion Bell copy them [e.g. Tridair and the 206LT.... the LT was a great machine as long as you did not actually want to leave the home airport].

Yes, for a couple of months this could be guessers corner! Hope no-one finds out the truth too early ;)

Maybe, but if the 419 is a 429 with one engine, perhaps not. The 429 is considearbly larger inside and out than the 407, so the 419 would be to the 407 as the 206L/407 is to the 206.
I'd guess a price on the 419 at least $1million more than the 407.

I have often wondered why Bell did not do a deal with Agusta to manufacture the 119 under license in the U.S. to fill out their product line. The 419 would likely fill this gap.

In any case Bell needs to get on with some innovative product development before their market share drops to zero. AFAIK, the 429 is the only Bell commercial product currently in production whose basic design is less than 40 years old. I fly a 407 which I find to be a great acft (except for a cockpit uncomfortable in the extreme for taller pilots), but its a 206 with lots of "stuff" stuck on to it.

When I saw the thread title I had hoped for curiosity's sake that it would be the JRX coming back into development.

My money is on a Bell 414ST, using dynamic components off the latest USMC Huey. Perhaps on wheels or skids as an option and layout similar to the 214ST.

The development of the 214 and 214ST was actually financed by the Shah of Iran in the early 70's . Except for 'inflated' versions of the 206 and 204, nothing much happened since in terms of R & D.

Hence Eurocopter invaded the USA and decided to stay.....

Not for Nigeria
 

:eek:

SASless will tell you why this won't work in Nigeria! :E

Trog

Troglodita, :ok: Sounds like a scam to me!

It may have a problem selling in japan as well 4 ( shi ) is death and 9 (ku) is torture. We actually had a Japanese customer that would not accept a helicopter serial # 2049.

I cant find anywhere where Bell has "announced" anything.

You can always count on Bob Cox to leak an internal memo like this, which then gets picked up at other news outlets as some kind of official release.

A new medium...
 

That would be great:ok:
End with the intensive care on older ship:ouch:
We are actually operating a Lama mainly Logging and construction (no sh... pax business :=) and looking for the future....
We need to take a lap away from our competitors, so the option of a modern medium is very effective:ok::ok::ok:
Let me wonder what Bell would bring out:cool:

I was flying both Koala and 350 B3, but they are about the same; 407 may pull less because of the airframe; maintenance is far easier on the 350 against both competitors, so I hope Bell would improuve it with a new product.

Resuming:

A NEW SINGLE ENGINED MEDIUM WITH SOME 2'000 SHP to fill the gap between the 2'500 / 3'000 lbs (of 350-407-119) and the K-Max 6'000 lbs on the hook would be great:hmm:.
Some 4'000 @ 6'000 ft 20 C >>>> that would break the market:D:ugh:

Let me hope so and stay safe!:E

No more bets, gentlemen.

Bell Textron Awards Rogerson Kratos 412 EP Magellan Cockpit Display System

I/C

Please don't speak about Capt. N. Lappos like that.... :oh:

:=

Nick has left the building.

I/C

Lets hope they don't downgrade it to try and become an R66 competitor... :)

Well now....a Bell 419 .....probably sold by the marketing team that sold the Osprey to the Marines.