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Type (Muster)
Light multi-purpose helicopter (leichter Mehrzweckhubschrauber)
Country (Land)
USA
Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Bell Helicopter
PO Box 482
Fort Worth, Texas
USA
Phone: 001-817/280-2011
Fax: 001-817/280-3631
Internet: www.bellhelicopter.com
General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 1 - 2
Passengers (Passagiere): 5 – 7, with two facing rows in main cabin
Power plant (Antrieb): 1 x Honeywell HTS900
Power (Leistung): 690 kW (925 shp) for take-off
Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Fuselage length (Rumpflänge): 10,58 m
Length overall, rotors turning (Gesamtlänge): 12,74 m
Width over skids (Breite über Kufen): 2,29 m
Height (Höhe): 3,6 m with standard skids
Rotor diameter (Hauptrotordurchmesser): 10,66 m
Main rotor disk area (Hauptrotorkreisfläche): 89,4 sq m
Tail rotor diameter (Heckrotordurchmesser): 1,65 m
Tail rotor disk area (Heckrotorkreisfläche): 2,08 sq m
Cabin length (Kabinenlänge): 1,5 m
Cabin height (Kabinenhöhe): 1,0 m
Cabin width (Kabinenbreite): 1,2 m
Cabin volume (Kabinenvolumen): 2,4 cu m, without cockpit
Baggage hold (Gepäckraum): 0,45 cu m
Weights (Massen)
Useful load (Zuladung): 1210 kg
Max. take-off weight (max. Startmasse): 2495 kg
Performance (Flugleistungen)
Maximum (max. Geschwindigkeit): 259 km/h
Hover ceiling OGE (Schwebeflughöhe ohne Bodeneffekt): 3050 m (10000 ft)
Costs (Kosten)
A base price of 2,11 million US-Dollars (2008 delivery) was mentioned at the time of the presentation ot the 417 in February 2006.
Customers (Kunden)
At the time of the programme cancellation in February 2007, Bell had 136 deposits on hand.
After the Heli-Expo in Dallas in late February 2006, Bell claimed orders for 117 Bell 417, of which many were apparently for its dealers.
Among known customers were:
- Aviation Specialties: 1. Ordered at Heli-Expo 2006, first for law enforcement. Company is based in Boise, Idaho.
- Hillsboro Aviaton: 12. This is a Bell dealer.
- MedTrans: 1.
- # TAM: 2.
- Universal Helicopters Newfoundland: 1.
Competitors (Konkurrenz)
Eurocopter AS350B3 Ecureuil
MD Helicopters MD 600N
Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The Bell 417 is based on the 407 and in essence the civil equivalent of the ARH developed for the US Army. It can be used for passenger transport, utility, EMS and police roles.
Main features of the Bell 417 are:
- a Honeywell HTS900 turbine engine delivering more than 970 shp uninstalled, but derated in this case to 925 shp. The engine has a FADEC system equipped with dual electronic control units (ECU) offering dual channel safety and reliability. Engine TBO at service entry should be 3000 hours.
- a modern, Chelton "glass cockpit" with two large colour displays (15 x 20 cm)
- extensive avionics fit with dual VHF-COM, GPS/WAAS, AD/AHRS, transponder, and S audio panel
- more powerful tail rotor
- new main rotor
Production would have been in Mirabel near Montreal.
History (Geschichte)
The Bell 417 was unveiled on 26 February 2006 at the Heli-Expo show in Dallas. In a ceremony before a large crowd, Bell Helicopter Chief Executive Officer Mike Redenbaugh revealed a mock-up in law enforcement configuration with FLIR and high skids. Bell Helicopter 417 Executive Director John Ricciardelli said that the helicopter will be ready for delivery in 2008. "We will be flying the Bell 417 prototype in April 2006 and hope to complete certification in early 2008," Ricciardelli said. European Aviation Safety Agency validation was expected in late 2008.
The Bell 417 completed its first flight Thursday, June 1, 2006. The aircraft took off from Bell XworX in Arlington, Texas and flew in a traffic pattern at 70 knots for a little more than half an hour at about 1,000 feet. The pilot's comments were that the aircraft handled great.
At a press conference on the eve of Heli-Expo 2007 on 28 February 2007 in Orlando, Bell announced the cancellation of the 417 programme. “That program was not going to be a big differentiator in the marketplace,” said Robert Fitzpatrick, senior vice president of business development. “The customer value proposition was not there.” According to Fitzpatrick, the decision to cancel was made in December 2006 already.
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