Fort Worth, TX (February 25, 2015) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X’s second flight test vehicle has successfully achieved its first flight. The Bell 505’s flight test vehicle one completed its first flight in November of last year, and the program has quickly progressed, performing additional flight tests and numerous practice autorotations.
For photos of the aircraft’s maiden flight, please view this link.
“We are so excited to announce this accomplishment to our customers eagerly awaiting their aircraft. This puts us one step closer to certification and production,” said David Smith, program director of the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X. “The aircraft performed incredibly well, successfully demonstrating a low traffic speed traffic pattern at 60 knots.”
The Bell 505 was designed based on extensive input provided by a Customer Advisory Council (CAC). Bell Helicopter unveiled the Jet Ranger X at HELI-Expo 2014 in February and has already received more than 300 letters of intent for the new model.
“We continue to make excellent progress with the flight test program and are working to assess key operational scenarios customers may be faced with.” added Smith.
The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X blends the proven systems of the Bell 206 with advanced technology and a sleek, modern design. The Garmin G1000HTM Integrated Avionics Suite provides pilots critical flight information at a glance to maximize situational awareness. Pilot workload is further reduced by the Turbomeca Arrius 2R engine with dual channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC). These features, combined with the aircraft’s high inertia rotor which delivers superior autorotation capability, and a newly designed cabin seating five passengers place safety, performance and affordability at the forefront.
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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, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit www.textron.com.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellations or deferrals of orders.