Story ID: 
Bell Logs First Turkish 407GXi Helicopter Sale
By: Charles Alcock
Caption: Sancak Air's CEO Mustafa Bayrak will use the GXi for private trips, piloting the single-engine rotorcraft himself and expanding the company's Bell fleet.
Word Count: 166
Turkish operator Sancak Air has signed a purchase agreement for what will be the first Bell 407GXi helicopter in the country. Bell Textron said the single-engine model will join a Bell 430 and a 206 in the customer’s fleet and will be used for private travel by Sancak CEO Mustafa Bayrak.
According to the manufacturer, demand for the latest version of the 407 is strong. Earlier this year, it announced purchase agreements from an undisclosed corporate customer in the UK for a pair of 407GXis, plus four more for the Polish National Police and one for Zeus Essential Holding in Ireland.
“As a business owner, this aircraft will be flown by me for my private flights,” said Bayrak. “The 407GXi impressed us with its high cruise speed, smooth flight characteristics, and advanced avionics.” There are 1,590 Bell 407s in service worldwide and collectively the fleet has amassed more than six million flight hours.