Tuesday
December 21, 2004 :
Bell 210 Completes First Flight
FAA Certification to Follow 1Q 2005
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, USA ( Bell Helicopter Press Release ) -
The Bell 210 helicopter made it's first
flight Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004, at the Bell subsidiary Edwards & Associates,
located in Bristol, Tenn. This successful flight marks the first in a series
of qualification flights as the Bell 210 goes thru FAA certification
testing. Bell expects to attain FAA certification 1st Quarter 2005, with
deliveries following soon after.
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The Bell 210 is a civil certified version of the U.S. Army UH-1H. Starting
with a refurbished UH-1H fuselage, Bell Helicopter adds dynamic components
from the Bell 212 (main rotor hub and blades, tail rotor, main and tail
rotor support structure, transmission, rotating controls, and tail boom),
and an FAA certified Honeywell T-53-517B engine providing a zero-time FAA
certified single engine medium utility helicopter.
"The Bell 210 is also the perfect solution for the many agencies that use
the UH-1H in utility, Homeland Security, law enforcement or firefighting
capacities," declared Bell CEO Mike Redenbaugh.
"It combines great performance with an existing logistical base, an
unbeatable DOC (Direct Operating Costs) and a tremendously low initial
acquisition cost. Add to that complete FAA certification and the Bell 210
is truly the best total value proposition to be found in the market today,"
Mr. Redenbaugh explained.
The Bell 210 helicopter will satisfy the U.S. Army's requirement for a Light
Utility Helicopter (LUH) in the TDA units as well as the Army National
Guard. There are many missions now supported by the US Army with assets that
are marked for reduction in the coming years that the Bell 210 could more
economically perform. These Army Light Utility Helicopters will perform
future utility missions for non-combat organizations (TDA), National Guard
utility, drug interdiction efforts (RAID), MEDEVAC, and Homeland Defense
(HLD) missions.
The Bell 210 is a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS), FAA certified, zero timed
helicopter that will operate for around $550 per hour. The Bell 210 will
allow the Army to unburden itself of logistics and engineering overhead
management and avail itself of the Bell worldwide, world-class commercial
support in spares, manuals, and technical support very similar to the TH-67
program at Ft. Rucker, Ala. All this with a warranty and 40% reduction in
operating costs. Cost of the Bell 210 will be approximately $3 million. A
comparable Huey-sized off the shelf commercial aircraft would cost
approximately $5 million.
The Bell 210 will have a useful load that is 640 lbs higher than the
UH-1H, 400 shaft horsepower increased horsepower available, and the direct
operating costs will be considerably less than other aircraft in the same
class.
Bell Helicopter Textron, a subsidiary of Textron Inc., is a $2.2 billion,
leading producer of commercial and military helicopters, and the pioneer of
the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for customer
service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce of 8,000
employees serves customers flying Bell aircraft in over 120 countries.
Textron Inc. is a $10 billion multi-industry company with more than 43,000
employees in nearly 40 countries. The company leverages its global network
of aircraft, 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, Kautex, Lycoming,
E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others.
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