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Bell 505 Jet Ranger X
Bell announces a new single engine helicopter at Paris airshow with Arrius engine.
http://bellhelicopter.com/en_US/News...easeID=1830175 http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps1b955afa.jpg BELL HELICOPTER TO RE-ENTER THE SHORT LIGHT SINGLE MARKET 6/17/2013 6:38:00 AM Paris, France - June 17, 2013 - Today at the 2013 Paris Air Show, Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced its return to the short light single (SLS) engine helicopter market with a new product designed to specifications based on the input of a customer advisory council. Bell Helicopter's new, five-seat entry-level aircraft is expected to complete its first flight in 2014 with certification to follow as quickly as possible. "Bell Helicopter is no stranger to the short light single market. We developed it nearly 50 years ago with the introduction of the Bell 206 JetRanger and are proud to have produced nearly 7,400 Bell 206 series aircraft since 1967 with over 4,400 remaining in service today," said John Garrison, president and CEO of Bell Helicopter. "However, we needed to create a new, modernized aircraft to meet requirements of five-seat utility, training, private, and law enforcement operators." Bell Helicopter's new short light single engine helicopter will feature a high visibility, fully flat cabin floor with five forward-facing seats. It is designed to meet performance targets recommended by the customer advisory council, including a speed of 125 knots (232 km), a range of 360 to 420 nautical miles (667 km) and a useful load of 1,500 pounds (608 kg). "The SLS class is both extremely competitive and price sensitive, so we collaborated with customers to incorporate their mission needs in a high performance, high value helicopter at a very competitive price," Garrison added. The new aircraft will be powered by the Turbomeca Arrius 2R engine, which will offer the benchmark for performance and power in the 450-550 shp class, while improving safety and lowering pilot workload with Full Authority Dual-Channel Engine Control (FADEC). It will also meet IATA Stage 4 noise targets. Additional safety enhancing design features will reduce pilot workload, improve situational awareness and deliver superior auto rotation capabilities. The combination of capabilities, performance characteristics and value will be backed by Bell Helicopter's industry-leading service and support. The new helicopter is expected to achieve first flight in 2014. Bell Helicopter will continue to release key information about the product and suppliers throughout its development. |
The JetBanger lives again!
Although, looking at that render, it looks like it will be more a "Bell 120". |
There seems no end to the manufacturers cultivation of aircraft category jargon - the "Short Light Single" (SLS) market !! :confused:
Are they really going to use the same running gear (as per the image) - wow, that really is breathing life back into the old Jetbox! |
Woohoo
Looks awesome!
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Appears to be a two blade semi-rigid (teetering) rotor. How modern is that? And a French engine? Have heard that every part for these costs $50,000. That's the bad news. The good news is that even if you have the $50,000, you cant get the part! :E
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New Bell single engine
What exactly is a "Short Light Single"? Or was it meant to be a "Short Legged Single"?
When there is a "Short Light Single" is there also a "Long Light Single" or a "Short Heavy Single"? I am confused by this "Rubbish Business Talk". |
You lot ought to be ashamed.
There's some revolutionary technology holding on those blades... called the TT strap...;) Quite clearly this is an improvement. Seating goes from 5 to …5. Useful load goes from 1487 to 1500 pounds. Range increases from 374nm to 360-420nm. Speed increases from 120 knots to 125 knots. Engine is changing from a derated 450 shp engine to a 450 shp engine. I suspect the price has higher performance numbers. |
There's some revolutionary technology holding on those blades... called the TT strap I suspect the price has higher performance numbers. |
Long light single is probably ec130 / 407 sized helicopters.
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You lot ought to be ashamed. There's some revolutionary technology holding on those blades... called the TT strap... Quite clearly this is an improvement. Seating goes from 5 to …5. Useful load goes from 1487 to 1500 pounds. Range increases from 374nm to 360-420nm. Speed increases from 120 knots to 125 knots. Engine is changing from a derated 450 shp engine to a 450 shp engine. I suspect the price has higher performance numbers. |
Robbie has nothing on this if it meets the specs. |
Marianoberna likes this.
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Originally Posted by PhlyingGuy
and a dual channel FADEC
Originally Posted by EN48
Havent heard any official or unofficial price info yet but my SWAG is $1.99 million
I/C |
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Long light single is probably ec130 / 407 sized helicopters. "Rubbish Business Talk" Robbie has nothing on this if it meets the specs. During Heli-Expo John Garrison hinted at a sub-$1 Mil price. I can't believe that, but it would be fantastic if true However, in case they have any problems, Bell's financial safety net is that the TT straps are going to be replaced every 500 hrs or every 12 months, whichever comes first! :E |
I wonder how the bean counters view this new aircraft, given the obvious comparison is the EC120? Since the R66 arrived, the EC120 production rate has dropped to about 10/year, while Robinson produced 191 R66s in 2012. Not forgetting the 480, of course. I am not a supporter of any particular manufacturer or model, but purchase price and operating cost are key, and Bell are going to need some magic numbers to make a dent in this market now (plus a few years to get it certified). Perhaps the plan is to produce it in China or Mexico or Poland etc to make it more competitive?
The silver stripe over the nose in the computer-generated images makes it look sad :sad: Just as a comparison, here's the 4-blade 5-seat "JRX" proposal from a few years ago.... http://www.246.ne.jp/~heli-ss/bell-jrx.jpg |
Think I'll just repaint the B206 and give it a new interior...! Bank manager will prefer that one and passengers will be none the wiser!
Oh and a new reg G-OSLS! |
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Sub $1million would be a winner.
Fly smart fly Bell. Buy smart, buy Bell. |
Pictures?
Is there just the one picture of this new machine, surely not?
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Great paint job and scenery really helps! Are there facts, figures etc available?
And maybe some static pictures? |
I have always been a huge fan of the Bell product. Pity I don't fly them any more.
Looking at this one my first impression was "I wouldn't like to have to replace that big arsed windscreen". And the next thing was "I wouldn't want the Turbomecca engine, just hope that Soloy will have an after market Lycoming or RR" And the "sub $1m price", not in my life time. |
Mmmmm .... shiny!
Is that meant to imply it's a composite structure or just a nice polishing job? Having said that I like Bells too, so good luck to them. |
CGI render makes it look like a cheap homebuilt. Next time maybe employ professionals?
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B206Iii MTOW with heavy high-skids 1519.5kg hmmmm so thats drop of almost 20kgs TOW :ok:
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Just landed last night at CDG , and today I ll pop into the Bell chalet and have a look see and find out more.
See if they have a press kit or so.....otherwise come Anaheim next Feb, either the mockup or the real McCoy will be on display. Cheers |
Looks great.
If latest technology will allow you to put 5 people in it, fill it up and OGE hover at 30 C, I will buy one ! I am glad Bell are re-entering the market, the 66 needs competition. Arrrj PS - would love a 429...they are cool ! |
You've got to love Bell's bend-over politics in selecting the Turbomeca powerplant in a same-sex effort to satisfy elements of their competitors market. However, I am more than a little sure that this gesture will prove to be a pain in their widely-parted derriere! Why throw away the decades of performance, reliability and moderate operating cost of the Allison/RR product? For me that's one mark down.
The design looks like a poor Chinese copy of a Colibri. That's another mark down. The rotorhead appears to retain the same autogyro-style teetering arrangement which in practice is a sloppy, slow-to-respond, limited performance system with dangerous susceptibility in low and negative-G manoeuvers. That's another mark down. Needless to say, I won't be buying one. |
Finally....a slicked up Jet Ranger! Oh....Surprise!
I bet the Pilot Seat still sucks out loud, the Pilot Door will not stay open by itself, and the Seat will not adjust.:= My old Dodge Diesel Pickup Truck does better any Bell! |
I'm a big fan of a lot of the Bell products, but this thing seems to be a bit too cryptic for me, even the price tag is too good to be true.
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huh?
I'm a big fan of a lot of the Bell products, but this thing seems to be a bit too cryptic for me, even the price tag is too good to be true. |
Seems to me that if you could currently buy a 206A with a flat floor for under $1 million, thats a pretty stinking good deal and Frank wouldnt have a stranglehood over the market with the R66.
With respect to complaints about the teetering rotorhead....not sure whats expected when its clear that main objective on this model is ultra low cost and good reliability. |
@Arrj
Speaking of the 429, I had a look see at Air Zermatts new 429 on display here :) You'd love it :) But forgot to ask for more info on the new ship! |
Why throw away the decades of performance, reliability and moderate operating cost of the Allison/RR product? |
Speaking of the 429, I had a look see at Air Zermatts new 429 on display here http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...lies/smile.gif WRT the new Bell, it is promising if they have identified that this end of the private/commercial/utility market is potentially so big that it justifies a new product to compete against the R66/EC120/EN480B. Suppose the rotorhead is cost saving, but also surprised it doesn't have an RR 250 or 300 engine. |
When I saw this, I thought it was an out of season April Fool's joke.
They've taken the worst of the B206 (teetering head) and the worst of the EC120 (TM). The best thing I can see about it is no broom closet. However that also probably brings the crashworthiness down from mil to EC levels. Why not just create a civilianised OH58D and call it a B406? Or just drop the price on the B407. |
why did they not just buy the Marenco helicopter project, it is at least up to date... Characteristics - marenco
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why did they not just buy the Marenco Me on the other hand, I agree with you 100%. I would go for something like the Marenco with the view to creating an ultra-economic modern aircraft to run head-to-head with the Colibri. If I were Bell I would then package this with a low fixed rate of interest payment plan so that you only have to front 50% of the purchase price. |
Agree with Grenville, turbomeca product in a Bell:confused:
I love Bell products but they need a short light 429 style single, bit like JRX,MAPL concept they released 10 years ago or so. Isn't that why operators buy Bell, to get away from Turbomeca:ugh:, this new product had me excited somewhat then I read the paragraph that mentioned Arrius:= |
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