Bell Helicopter (Booth N2132) reports letters of intent for more than 350 copies of the new Jet Ranger X light single helicopter, which features the dual-channel Fadec Turbomeca Arrius 2R engine (504 shp) and Garmin G1000H avionics. Configurations of the new five-seater available initially will be utility, law enforcement and corporate/VIP. The price point of the base 505 is expected to be in the $1 million range. The 505 is designed for a maximum cruise speed of 125 ktas, a maximum range of 360 nm and a useful load of up to 1,500 pounds.
The 505 remains on track to earn Transport Canada certification early next year. Bell announced the 505 program at the 2013 Paris Airshow, and the first test aircraft made its first flight on Nov. 10, 2014. The second flight test vehicle first flew this past February. The first two flight-test vehicles completed hot testing in Havasu, Ariz., and high-altitude testing in Colorado over the summer. A third flight-test vehicle made its first flight on July 16. That aircraft is currently being used for certification, noise and handling qualities testing. It is also heavily configured with optional equipment such as TCAS, air-conditioning, standby flight instruments and a second VHF radio. It will finish its certification testing near the end of the year with function-and-reliability testing.
The aircraft features a wide-opening double-door, a 22-sq-ft flat cabin floor with tie downs and an 18-cu-ft baggage compartment that can accommodate up to four standard suitcases or several travel golf bags. The 505 is equipped with three, 16-inch-wide bulkhead-mounted, forward-facing, energy attenuating seats. For switching between passenger transport and utility missions, these seats can either fold up or be removed. The 505 features an open cabin layout with 61 cu ft of rear cabin volume for carrying passengers or cargo.
Bell officially dedicated its new 82,300-sq-ft assembly plant for the 505 Jet Ranger X in Lafayette, La., on August 27. The facility is expected to have up to 100 employees. Turbomeca delivered the first production Arrius 2R engine for the 505 to Bell in August on schedule in Lafayette. The Arrius 2R is the only turbine in the 500-shp range to feature a dual-channel Fadec. “We are perfectly on track to meet Bell Helicopter’s expectations,” said Jean-François Sauer, Arrius 2R program vice president, “and moving at a steady pace towards EASA engine certification by the end of 2015.”
The Arrius 2R achieved first ground run in April 2014 and made its first flight aboard 505 FTV1 at Bell’s Mirabel (Quebec) facility in November 2014. Production Arrius 2R engines will be assembled at Turbomeca USA’s facility in Dallas and integrated in Lafayette. Initially, the 2R will have a time between overhaul (TBO) limit of 3,000 hours.