Bell 505 Jet Ranger X

First announced as the Bell SLS at the 2013 Paris Air Show, the Short Light Single was developed as a five-seat light helicopter featuring a high-visibility cabin, a fully flat floor and forward-facing seating for all occupants. Initial performance targets included a cruise speed of approximately 125 knots (232 km/h), a range of 360 to 420 nautical miles (667–778 km) and a useful load of about 1,500 pounds (680 kg).

The new aircraft was designed around the Safran Helicopter Engines Arrius 2R turboshaft, formerly marketed under the Turbomeca name. The engine provides dual-channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC), while the helicopter was also designed to meet stringent IATA Stage 4 noise requirements.

The designation Bell 505 Jet Ranger X was unveiled at Heli-Expo 2014, where Bell announced that the programme had already attracted 171 letters of intent.

The first Bell 505 prototype completed its maiden flight on November 10, 2014, at Bell Helicopter's Mirabel facility in Quebec, Canada.

Bell originally planned to establish the final assembly line in an 82,300-square-foot, Louisiana-funded facility at Lafayette Regional Airport. The hangar was scheduled for completion in 2015 and was to be leased from the State of Louisiana. However, Bell moved final assembly to Mirabel, Canada, in 2016 as part of a manufacturing optimisation programme.

By March 2016, the Bell 505 had received more than 350 letters of intent from customers worldwide. The first production aircraft were delivered to customers in March 2017.

Following the completion of high-altitude testing in Nepal in 2019, the Bell 505 was certified for operations at density altitudes of up to 22,500 feet (6,858 metres).

By July 2020, more than 260 Bell 505 helicopters had been delivered worldwide, accumulating over 45,000 flight hours.

In 2020, the Bell 505 received European certification for the Garmin G1000H NXi integrated avionics suite.

By February 2021, nearly 300 Bell 505 helicopters were operating in more than 55 countries across six continents, with the worldwide fleet surpassing 50,000 flight hours.

In March 2022, more than 320 Bell 505 helicopters in service worldwide surpassed a combined 100,000 flight hours.

By July 2026, Bell had delivered its 700th Bell 505. The global fleet had accumulated more than 390,000 flight hours and was operating in over 55 countries across six continents.