Uniflight To Offer The RR500 Engine For The 206 Series Helicopter

Uniflight announced a cooperative venture between Bell Helicopter and Rolls-Royce on Sunday to provide the RR500 turboshaft as an engine upgrade kit to the 206 series of light single engine helicopters. The company says the program will significantly improve the performance of the aircraft for hot climate and high altitude operating conditions. The option kit will be certified and offered by Uniflight as a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to the original aircraft type certificate and is expected to be finalized in 2013, promptly after the issuance of the engine type certificate.

The upgrade will further advance the mission performance, operational efficiencies and capability of the benchmark light single engine helicopter first introduced by Bell Helicopter in the 1960's. The comprehensive developmental program will be led by Uniflight with significant participation by both Bell Helicopter and engine manufacturer, Rolls-Royce. The kit will apply to all variants of the 206B JetRanger series and the "straight L" model of the 206L LongRanger series aircraft as a retrofit option. Uniflight's development of the STC will be supported by an exclusive license to use Bell Helicopter technology for the applicable airframes. In addition, Rolls-Royce has granted Uniflight exclusivity with respect to this same market for the RR500 engine, with contractual arrangements in place among the participating companies to develop, manufacture, market and deliver the innovative upgrade.

Bell 206 File Photo

"This program is a significant advancement to an aircraft that has been known around the world as the standard by which all other light single engine helicopters have been judged for over forty years, said company president and chief executive officer Joe Hawke during the 2011 Heli-Expo in Orlando, FL. "Not only will we improve the performance of the 206 series helicopters with the Rolls-Royce RR500 engine, it will also significantly lower the direct operating costs for the aircraft. We're fortunate to be leading this effort with industry stalwarts such as Bell Helicopter and Rolls-Royce."

FMI: www.uniflight.com