Bell 429 tour - Fly smart. Fly Bell |
Words and Photographs by Julien Ritz |
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON. This company was founded in 1935 by Lawrence Dale Bell and named Bell Aircraft Corporation. Its first goal was to build fighter airplanes (X-1). In early forties, with the arrival of the inventor and helicopter pioneer Arthur M. Young, the company focused itself on rotary wings. Bell Helicopter was born. In 1960, Textron Inc.; detaining today Cessna Aircraft, Lycoming and others; bought Bell Helicopter.
Today all commercial helicopters are built at Bell factory in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada. The civilian sector of Bell Helicopter Textron represents about 25% of the turnover of the company. The military helicopters assembly line is situated in Fort Worth and Amarillo, Texas, USA.
SWITZERLAND AND BELL. Since 1949, 965 civil helicopters have been registered in Switzerland. The big part of them were/are Sud Aviation, Aerospatiale, Eurocopter type with the AS350B3 as most represented. On the 965 helicopters registered since 61 years, Bell Helicopter represents twenty percent of the whole Swiss fleet with the AB / Bell 206B Jet Ranger as most common type. Between 1980 and 1996 it was more common to see big baby flying in Switzerland (Heliswiss) like the Bell 205A1, 212, 214B1&ST or 412 than today.
PREDECESORS. The most popular Bell Helicopter models are: B47, B205, B206, B212, B214, B412, B407, B430, UH1, H13 Sioux, UH1N, AH1 Cobra, OH58 Kiowa, ARH70 (military version of B407), “H” upgrade like AH1Z Super Cobra and finally the Bell 429 Global Ranger.
The 429 is the direct successor of Bell 427(i) developed in 1997 by BHTI with the view to offering a LTH to its customers. The Bell 427 production was abandoned to focus on the Bell 429 project. Orders of 427 were honored in proposing the 429 in replacement.
BELL 429. This light twin helicopter from Category "A" 2 / JAR-OPS 3 is equipped with two PW207D1 FADEC (update from previous PW207D of Bell 427) of 730 SHP (TP). The aircraft empty weight is given by Bell as 2,035 Kg in standard configuration; maximum gross weight is 3,042 Kg with a max cargo capacity of 1,361 Kg and a maximum speed of 155+ ktas.
The helicopter is fitted with SPIFR in standard configuration with glass cockpit and three or four axis autopilot. The Bell 429 is available in EMS, corporate, law enforcement or utility configuration with retracting gears or skis. Rear Clamshell Doors are also available permitting you to be effective during medical evacuations.
SION LSGS. The 22th of June 2010, the Bell 429 arrived from Samedan at Sion Airport (1830CET) under its two-month tour of demonstration flights for customers in Europe. A few weeks before, the aircraft was in Prague in the Czech Republic, where it participated in AeroExpo Europe 2010. It was also in ILA Berlin Air Show 2010 and in Austria. The demonstration team spent March visiting Chile, Argentina and Brazil following an appearance at Chile's FIDAE air show.
The 23th of June, the test pilot has proceeded to several full passenger (pilots + 6) demonstration flights over the Alps with pilots of Air Glaciers, Heli-Alps and Eagle Helicopter. They have performed some hovers at the top of the Dent Blanche (4357m), hard turns, quick stops, speed demonstrations and IGS acquisition with the four axis autopilot. In the afternoon it flew to Zermatt to visit the local company, Air Zermatt AG.
The aircraft was really appreciated by pilots. This light twin helicopter is in the JAR-OPS and MSG-3 standard approved by the European Aviation Safety. It is also certified SPIFR. The full glass cockpit is really handy, everything is within reach. The cabin is huge (6,74 m3) and confortable for corporate flights with a large fret part. In EMS configuration, you can place easily two patients and still be able to treat them during the flight to hospital.
GREAT BUT. Some pilots have pointed out that the downwash could be a problem during rescue operation close to a cliff. The powerful rotor blast could trigger rock falls. The size and the weight is also a problem.
A pilot asked : Can we mount the hoist on the left side as we do on our Lama and Alouette III for mountain operations ? The mechanic responds : On the Bell 429, you can only mount the hoist on the right side. The reason is simple for us. It provides a better cooperation between the pilot and the hoist operator. By placing the hoist on the right side, the pilot can have the right reaction at the right moment if the wire rope starts to spin and swing...
429 TOUR. After its stop in Sion, the Bell and its crew were heading to Bern Airport, the last visit in Switzerland, for another day of demonstration on the 24th June. The following days the 429 flew to Baden-Baden in Germany and then in UK to participate to Farnborough International Airshow 2010. The next steps are Johannesburg in South Africa and Dubai in United Arabic Emirates. It should be on its way to Mirabel for Christmas.
A second Global Ranger (N10984¦S/N 57003) has been performing demonstrations in Japan since late March and will continue through September.
This Bell is a precise-handling, no-vibration, low-noise-in-the-cockpit; with easy access to a spacious cabin, easy-to-use instruments and very cost-effective to maintain helicopter. With a price of 5.3 million Swiss Francs (5 million USD), the Bell 429 is cheaper than an Agusta Grand that costs 10.2 million Swiss Francs (8.95 million USD).
The Bell 429 Global Ranger is, at present, the most modern civilian helicopter in the world, and it has been almost entirely designed in Quebec. The production is not even started and already, more than 200 orders have been placed. This helicopter will provide much of the future of the Mirabel factory and its 2,000 employees.
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