Dubai, United Arab Emirates – November 11, 2011 – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), will showcase the Bell 429, Bell 407AH as well as the Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor during the 2011 Dubai Airshow. This marks the first time the V-22 and Bell 407AH will be on public display in the Middle East.
“Bell Helicopter will have three of its game-changing products at the 2011 Dubai Airshow,” said John Garrison, President and CEO for Bell Helicopter.”Bell Helicopter is committed to changing the way the world flies and these aircraft are proof of that promise.”
The Bell 429 and Bell 407AH will be on display outside the Bell Helicopter Chalet (A73) and the V-22 Osprey will be on display as part of the U.S. Department of Defense corral.
The V-22 Osprey, a tiltrotor aircraft that can take-off and land like a helicopter and fly like an airplane, will also make demonstration flights to showcase its capabilities.
“We believe the V-22 is the right solution for Middle East customers who are seeking range, speed, payload and mission flexibility for military and humanitarian operations,” Garrison said. “The V-22 has proven itself in combat conditions flying more than 125,000 hours. And according to the U.S. Navy Safety Center, the Osprey is also the safest rotorcraft in the Marine Corp fleet.”
Entering service in April 2010, the Bell 429 continues to gain market momentum with orders placed in more than 20 countries around the globe. It is currently operating in all of the major industry segments, including the helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), parapublic (law enforcement), oil & gas and corporate/VIP.
The Bell 429 is the world’s newest light twin helicopter. It features a state-of-the-art glass flight deck that enhances crew situational awareness. With the largest cabin in its class, customers are also pleased with its smooth and quiet ride.
Introduced earlier this year, the Bell 407AH is a Bell-qualified armed commercial aircraft designed to support a wide range of law enforcement and paramilitary missions worldwide. The Bell 407AH comes equipped with a baseline law enforcement package that can be customized with multiple weapon configurations – making it approximately half the cost of a traditional militarized combat aircraft when fully equipped.
About Bell Helicopter
Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical-lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.
Press Contact
Angela Baldwin
817-280-6737 (USA office)
akbaldwin@bellhelicopter.textron.com