Bell Helicopter is to install Honeywell's 925shp (670kW) HTS900 turboshaft in its Model 407 light turbine single as part of a spiral development plan, but will not decide until next year whether to offer the re-engined helicopter.
An agreement to integrate the HTS900, an upgrade of Honeywell's LTS101, will be announced at this week's Heli-Expo show in Anaheim, California. The digitally controlled engine will provide 15% more installed power than the Rolls-Royce 250-C47B turboshaft now in the 407.
Compared with the LTS101, the HTS900 features a new compressor and dual-channel full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) and offers increased power and a 5% reduction in specific fuel consumption. Honeywell says the first engine to test, with a production FADEC, has achieved all design power specifications.
Certification of the HTS900 and the 407 integration programme are to be completed in late 2006. Bell will continue to build and sell the R-R-powered 407. It will decide next year whether to offer a new model of the helicopter. The HTS900 will power Bell's 407-based entry in the US Army's Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter competition.
Other changes are planned for the 407, on top of more than 50 improvements made over the past two years that have reduced operating cost by up to $20/h, says Bell. The 407 is Bell's highest-selling model, with 40 produced last year as it saw commercial helicopter deliveries rise to 109 from 97 in 2003. Orders across the product range were up 80% last year, says Bell.
The Model 412 medium twin is the second-highest-selling Bell, with 31 delivered last year. The company will announce at Heli-Expo that it has teamed with Aeronautical Accessories and Intelligent Automation to develop a lightweight, low-cost helicopter vibration monitoring system for retrofit to the 412.
GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
