Mon, Feb 07, 2005
MAPL Technology Advanced Three Years, Over 90 Orders Already
Booked
It was quite a show... At a spectacular unveiling at the opening
day of HeliExpo 2005, Bell Helicopter chief executive officer
Michael Redenbaugh introduced the all-new Bell 429 light twin
helicopter. In ceremonies before a large crowd Mr. Redenbaugh
presented two complete mockups of the new aircraft. First was the
wheeled corporate version followed by Emergency Medical Service
version with a cavernous patient area.
Speaking of the newly introduced and named GlobalRanger, Mr.
Redenbaugh said, “The new Bell 429 represents many things to
the market place. First, it is simply the benchmark for the light
twin segment. Second, it epitomizes the new Bell’s dedication
to listening to our customers. Third, it is the first of many Bell
products that will begin incorporating new technologies we have
been developing the last several years,”
He continued, “The Bell 429 contains nine new MAPL
technologies. The most visible is the MAPL cabin. It is huge! It
will provide our customers a tremendous range of options. We are
able to do this because we accelerated the introduction of some of
our MAPL technology by three years. It is the basis of our
responding to our customer requirements for now and the future.
With the Bell 429 we are accelerating the introduction of the next
generation product line by incorporating the MAPL cabin with the
427i announced last year.”
Plans call for the first Bell 429 deliveries in first half of
2007.
This light twin will surpass all competitive light twins in the
following key customer satisfaction parameters:
- Cabin volume -- 220 cu ft; more than 70% larger than
Bell’s current light twin 427
- Useful load -- 2700 lb with a Single Pilot IFR
configuration
- Range -- 365 nautical miles with full payload
The following features will be standard configuration in the
429M:
- MAPL cabin offers the following advantages
- Cockpit that can accommodate from a 5th percentile woman to a
95th percentile man wearing a helmet with NVG stowed
- Wide, open cabin
- Best in class volume in cabin for comfort and improved patient
access in the EMS configuration
- 2-patient capability with both attendants at patient head
- Flat floor to optimize mission flexibility
- Clam shell doors to accommodate roll-on, roll-off, one-man
litter loading systems and maximum utility flexibility
- Integrated sliding doors with an opening wide enough to side
load patients
- High and low skid gear
- New state-of-the-art MAPL glass cockpit
- Integrated Avionics System
- Single pilot IFR (dual optional)
- Category A
- Fully coupled 3-axis autopilot
- Dual hydraulic system in all three axes
- Pilot friendly instrument panel
- Room for growth and mission flexibility
- New rotor technology offering competitive performance
- 1100 shp
- Increased speed
- Variable RPM
- Improved altitude performance
- Decreased noise
- MAPL Developed Manufacturing Techniques
- New 4-bladed tail rotor system offering noise improvements
- TCAA/FAA/ EASA certification to latest amendments
The 429 program is a collaborative program involving foreign
investors from around the world.
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