Bell Helicopter Rolls Out Second 525 Prototype

Bell Helicopter is readying its second super-medium 525 twin for first flight later this year. The first Bell 525 flight-test vehicle made its maiden flight on July 1 at the company's Amarillo, Texas plant.

Larry Roberts, Bell executive vice president of sales and marketing for the 525 program, said Ship One had accumulated approximately 50 hours of test flying through the summer and that, other than some minor teething issues, has performed "extremely well." He added, "It flies better than the simulator."

Roberts said Bell remains on track to complete flight testing with five ships flying an estimated 1,500 hours by the end of next year. Bell currently holds some 68 letters of intent (LOIs) for the 525 and expects to exceed its goal of 70 LOIs by year-end. The company plans to release an "industry price" for the 525 next year, Roberts told AIN. Bell also plans to unveil the 525's executive interior concept in mockup form at NBAA 2016.