Bell 505 Jet Ranger X

Bell 505 Jet Ranger X
Bell 505 Jet Ranger X
Role Light helicopter
National origin Canada
Manufacturer Bell Helicopter
First flight 10 November 2014[1]
Status Under development
Number built 3
Unit cost
$1.07 million[2]

The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X (JRX) is an American/Canadian light helicopter currently under development by Bell Helicopter. The Bell 505 was unveiled at the 2013 Paris Airshow on June 17, 2013 as the Bell SLS (Short Light Single). The official name was later announced at HAI Heli-Expo 2014 in Anaheim, California on February 25, 2014. The first flight occurred on November 11, 2014,[2][3][4] with certification by Transport Canada expected in 2016.[5]

Design and development

The Bell 505 is a "clean sheet" design, but will use some dynamic components, such as the rotor system,[6] of the Bell 206L-4. The airframe will be constructed of metal and composites, and has a 22-square-foot (2.04 m²) flat floor and an 18-cubic-foot (0.51 m³) luggage bay.[7] The Turbomeca Arrius 2R will be utilized as the type's engine with a dual-channel FADEC and a 3,000-hour Time-between-overhaul.[8] The 505 cockpit will be equipped with the Garmin G1000H glass avionics suite.[7][9][10] It is prepared for extras like a cargo hook.[6]

Main production was to start in 2016[6] in a 82,300-square-foot (7,646 m²), $26.3 million hangar facility at Lafayette Regional Airport in Louisiana,[11] but the tooling is prepared for assembly in different places in the world.[8] Louisiana offered $8 million in support for 250 new jobs,[11] and started construction of the factory in August 2014 which will then be leased to Bell.[12] The factory opened in August 2015.[13] On May 19, 2016 during a conference call, Bell Helicopter CEO Mitch Snyder announced changes to the production supply chain that include relocating the Bell 505 production to Bell Helicopter's assembly and distribution center in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada. The Lafayette Assembly Center, which was specifically designed to manufacture and deliver the 505, will instead complete Bell 525 sub-assemblies and perform work on Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout UAVs.[14]

Initial assembly, flight testing and certification is to start in Canada while the factory is being built in US.[6] First flight went to 60 knots on November 11, 2014,[3] and the second test aircraft flew in February 2015.[15] Bell said they had 240 Letters of intent (50 from Europe) for the 505 in October 2014,[16] and in November Chinese tourism operator Reignwood increased their intent from 10 to 60 of the type.[17] In August 2015 Bell had 350 Letters of intent.[13]

Specifications

Data from GBell, AVweb and Bell PR[9][11]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. ↑ "First Flight". Rotor & Wing: 10. December 2014.
  2. 1 2 Perry, Dominic (July 23, 2014). "Bell targets mid-November for Jet Ranger X first flight". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on July 25, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Perry, Dominic (November 11, 2014), "Maiden sortie for Bell's new 505 Jet Ranger X", Flightglobal, Reed Business Information, retrieved November 11, 2014
  4. ↑ "Back to the Lights". Vertical, February 25, 2014.
  5. ↑ Huber, Mark (27 February 2016). "Bell 505 Aims for Mid-year Certification". AINonline. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Maher, Guy. "Bell gives 505 JetRanger update" Vertical, July 21, 2014. Accessed: July 21, 2014. Archived on July 21, 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Bell Helicopter to Equip New Short Light Single Aircraft with Garmin G1000H Integrated Avionics System" Textron PR, September 24, 2013. Accessed: December 11, 2013.
  8. 1 2 MARK HUBER and THIERRY DUBOIS. "Bell Reveals more on ‘short light single’". AIN online, August 3, 2013. Accessed: December 11, 2013.
  9. 1 2 "Bell 505 Jet Ranger X webpage". Bell Helicopter, February 2014.
  10. ↑ "Bell Launches Light Single to Compete with Robinson R66, Eurocopter EC120". Rotor & Wing Magazine, June 17, 2013.
  11. 1 2 3 "BELL HELICOPTER ANNOUNCES NEW HELICOPTER ASSEMBLY FACILITY IN LOUISIANA". verticalmag.com, December 11, 2013. Accessed: December 11, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Gov. Jindal And Bell Helicopter CEO John Garrison Announce Construction Start For Louisiana Helicopter Assembly Facility" Louisiana Economic Development, August 27, 2014. Accessed: September 2, 2014.
  13. 1 2 http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Bells-Jet-Ranger-Assembly-Plant-Opens-In-Louisiana-224770-1.html
  14. ↑ "Bell Helicopter Announces Program Relocations to Optimize Manufacturing Capabilities". bellhelicopter.com. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  15. ↑ Bell 505's second flight test vehicle achieves first flight Bell PR
  16. ↑ Oliver Johnson & Elan Head. "Bell CEO outlines European growth plan" Vertical, October 15, 2014. Accessed: October 21, 2014.
  17. ↑ Hashim, Firdaus (12 November 2014), "Reignwood signs LOI for 50 Bell 505s", Flightglobal, Reed Business Information, retrieved 16 November 2014

External links

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