Sun, Mar 06, 2011
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."
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