Bell today announced delivery of the 200th Bell 505 Jet Ranger X, with the milestone helicopter going to Austria-based operator Hubi-fly Helikopter for corporate transport use. The first Bell 505 was handed over to Pylon Aviation in March 2017, and the global fleet of the light turbine helicopters now spans six continents.
“What sets the Bell 505 apart from other short light single aircraft is its multi-mission capability,” said Bell 505/429 program director LaShan Bonaparte. “Our intent from initial design for the Bell 505 was to deliver an industry-leading aircraft to the market. As operator needs expand, we continue to see growth of our 505 customer base.”
Bell said its Jet Ranger X was developed with the support of a customer advisory panel “focused on honoring the legacy of the Bell 206 Jet Ranger while enhancing performance, technology, and cost of operations.” The result was a versatile helicopter that is being used for electronic newsgathering, law enforcement, emergency medical services, corporate transportation, and utility missions, among others.
The five-seat Bell 505 incorporates proven dynamic components, advanced aerodynamic design, and a dual-channel Fadec Turbomeca Arrius 2R engine.