Smooth, Quiet Flight in Bell’s 429

During a demo flight in a Bell 429 yesterday, demo pilot Will Williamson took a group of journalists for a jaunt over the Red Rocks Canyon, west of Las Vegas. The air was smooth, and the 429, equipped with Mecaer’s MAGnificent executive/VIP interior, was so quiet inside that it was possible to converse without headphones. Williamson, who has logged more than 1,000 hours in the 429, said it is his favorite Bell model because of the rugged twin-engine rotorcraft’s high-speed capability and simplicity of operation.