The Bell 429 is set for take off as the light twin helicopter for the European emergency medical service (EMS) market.
The new 429, being presented at booth 1508 by Bell Helicopter, combines medium twin features with the economy of a light twin.
Incorporating 11 advanced technologies developed under Bell’s Modular Affordable Product Line (MAPL) programme, the 429 will include advanced main rotor blades, aircraft data interface unit (ADIU), three-axis autopilot and dual hydraulics.
With orders already approaching 200, Bell will certificate the 429 in the second half of 2007 with Transport Canada and the US Federal Aviation Administration, with European certification to follow within 12 months.
Bill Stromberg, Bell 429 programme director, says: “We listened to the EMS customer and have designed and are building a helicopter that delivers critical features this market demands. The 429 is a remarkably fast, light twin that flies farther with more payload than anything else in its class.”
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2007.
Source: Flight Daily News
