Turbomeca has delivered the first Arrius 2R engine to Bell Helicopter’s Mirabel, Canada facility ahead of assembly of the first flight-test example of the airframer’s 505 Jet Ranger X.
The milestone occurred on 29 August and was 10 days ahead of schedule, says Olivier Andries, chief executive of the French engine manufacturer.
Bell is targeting November for the first flight of the new light single, around 18 months since the programme was launched at the 2013 Paris air show.
Bell Helicopter
Bell has already accumulated over 200 commitments for the 505 Jet Ranger X “and as soon as it flies there will be more”, says Andries.
“One of the challenges that we both have is considering the significant commercial momentum in the ramp-up,” he says.
The 504shp (376kW), FADEC-equipped powerplant has been developed exclusively for the new light, single-engined helicopter. It also marks the first time the two rotorcraft stalwarts have worked together.
Assembly of the serially produced engines will take place at Turbomeca’s facility in Dallas, Texas.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
