Bell Helicopter Textron says the first flight of its newest aircraft, the 427, is likely to take place before the end of the year. In the 18 months since Bell announced the development of the 427, the order book has swelled by more than 65 firm orders.
The company says develop-ment is on schedule with the first two prototypes under final construction in Quebec, Canada.
The 427 project is a joint venture between Bell and Samsung Aerospace Industries Ltd of Korea.
"With the 427 we went right back to the drawing board and literally started with a blank piece of paper," says Jeff Cromar, marketing manager, Middle East.
"We set ourselves a goal of creating a versatile and world-class helicopter which had a wide variety of applications, and the 427 will live up to these expectations."
Powered by two Pratt and Whitney Canada 600shp (450kW) PW206D turboshaft engines, the 427 is 13in (30cm) longer than Bell's 407 and will meet anticipated ICAO and JAR twin-engine requirements.
A new main transmission with direct input from the two engines is at the design stage.
FAA certification for the craft is scheduled for December 1998 with production deliveries planned to start in January 1999.
The seating capacity of the 427 is one pilot and seven passengers with removable main-cabin seating designed to allow quick conversion in preparation for utility operations.
Bell says the helicopter will fulfil a number of roles including executive and commuter transport, cargo missions and emergency medical services. Maximum cruising speed will peak at 135kt (250km/h).
Flight dynamics for the craft are based on the four-blade main rotor system of the US Army's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior and the tail rotor from the 407 new light single.
Under the joint-venture agreement Samsung will be the sole-source manufacturer of 427 cabins and tailbooms.
The flight dynamics will be built by Bell in Fort Worth, Texas, with final assembly at the company's Mirabel plant in Quebec.
Samsung will carry out final assembly and completion of the 427 at its Sachon plant for sales of the aircraft to the Korean and Chinese markets.
Source: Flight Daily News
