Story ID: 
Bell Customer Caps Delivery with Transatlantic Flight
By: Jerry Siebenmark
Caption: The Bell 407GXi made stops in 13 countries on the way to Ukraine.
Word Count: 173
A Ukrainian corporate customer broke in its new Bell 407GXi helicopter equipped with an instrument flight rules kit by operating a transatlantic flight following delivery of the turboshaft single in Mirabel, Canada. The flight was operated by Maksym Lunov, the pilot and owner of Heliclub—one of Bell’s Ukrainian independent representatives—and included stops in 13 countries with the customer aboard.

“I’ve been a pilot for 13 years, and a transatlantic flight is something I’ve always wanted to do. It would not have been easily done without the IFR kit,” said Lunov. “The Bell 407GXi is a remarkable helicopter that provided a safe and enjoyable trip. With the IFR kit, we had no weather limitations and it allowed us to proceed with the planned route without any delays.”

The helicopter will be used for corporate transportation around Ukraine by the unnamed customer. It was featured along with a Bell 505 and Bell 429 last week at a Bell and Heliclub customer demonstration event at the Mayachok Yacht Club.