Bell announced the milestone delivery of its 400th model 505 light single-engine helicopter to UK customer Al Barratt, co-founder of Grenade and owner of Cotswold Aviation.
“We are proud to celebrate the 400th delivery to Mr. Barratt,” said LaShan Bonaparte, Bell's vice president of commercial sales. “The Bell 505 provides outstanding performance capabilities, modern avionics, and a versatile cabin for our customers. This will be a great addition to Cotswold Aviation’s fleet.”
The first Bell 505, a five-seat aircraft that cruises at 125 knots and has a 360 nm maximum range, was delivered in 2017. It features the Garmin G1000H NXi avionics suite and Safran Arrius 2R engine with a dual-channel fadec and can now be equipped with the optional Garmin GFC 600H autopilot with features including altitude hold with speed stability and a hover assist mode. The aircraft is available in utility, executive, and VIP interior configurations and is gaining popularity as both a civil and military trainer. The 505 currently is used to train government forces in Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Montenegro, and the UAE. Additionally, Bell recently signed a deal to sell 40 for use as trainers to the Republic of Korea Army and Republic of Korea Navy.