BELL HAS BEGUN major assembly of the first prototype Model 427 light twin-turbine helicopter. The aircraft is to be flown at Bell's Canadian commercial-helicopter plant in December 1997.
Two prototypes are planned and simultaneous Canadian, European and US certification is scheduled for December 1998. The first production 427 is expected to be flown in June 1998, and Bell has orders for more than 50 of the $2 million helicopters, says commercial product manager Michael Blondino.
The 427 has the same four-blade, composite, main rotor as Bell's 407 light single-turbine helicopter, but with 0.3m-longer blades. The fuselage is stretched by 0.33m, to enable six forward-facing seats to be installed in the cabin - and to allow the fuel cells to be moved out from under the passenger seats to meet new crashworthiness requirements, says Blondino.
The fuselage is composite, while the tail boom is metal. Both will eventually be manufactured by Samsung of South Korea. The 427 is powered by two digitally controlled Pratt &Whitney Canada PW206D turboshaft engines.
Bell has selected Rogerson Kratos to supply a two-screen, liquid-crystal, integrated instrument-display system similar to that used on the 430 intermediate twin.
Source: Flight International
