Provides Additional Details About Performance, Price

The Scott's-Bell 47GT-6 that was announced at Heli-Expo earlier this month will be more than just a refurbishment of old helicopters. The company says the aircraft will be a brand new SB47 factory built helicopter. The program's general manager Chris Meyer said the reference to an STC in the initial announcement was only to describe the likely certification approach. The 47G-3B-2A had the highest gross weight approval of all Bell 47's at 3,200 lb, so to design an STC to that airframe incorporating the new engine, rather than to create a brand new configuration on the Type Certificates, is likely to be a more efficient certification approach.

Meyer said the 47GT-6 will look like the Bell 47 but will in fact incorporate many modern features. The proven, durable airframe will remain largely unchanged. However, the maintenance schedule will be simplified and some of the life limits will be increased, not least the metal main rotor blades will be replaced with more efficient, and longer life composite blades; the incandescent exterior lights will all be replaced by brighter, more efficient LED lights; the instrument panel will be all new and will incorporate solid state instruments as well as caution/warning lights plus other modern improvements; the cabin will incorporate energy absorbing, ergonomic seats and a fresh, modern interior. These are just some of the highlights, simply improving what needs to be improved, but to not take away from the market leading features such as the durable, on-condition airframe and the high inertia main rotor and renowned reliability.

SB47 expects the 47GT-6 to have competitive performance in the areas that matter to the light utility and turbine training markets:

• Internal Useful Load : 1,400 lb
• Useful Load with External Load : 1,650 lb
• HOGE @ 2,750 lb - >12,000 ft PA ISA Std Day
• HIGE @ MGE : >12,000ft PA ISA Std Day
• DOC (direct operating costs per Conklin & de Decker methods) : <$400/hr

Meyer says that any customer signing up this month for a 2016 delivery will pay $750,000 in 2016. After this launch opportunity passes, the pricing will revert to the 2016 price, with forecast escalation, of $820,000. To secure a launch opportunity the deposit is $15,000 and is refundable, tied to SB47 schedule and performance targets. After the launch opportunity passes, the non-refundable

"We are very pleased with the launch of the 47GT-6 and how it was received by our customers at Heli Expo," Meyer said. "Our first year of production is almost sold out and we continue to work with many operators on prospective sales for the out years."

FMI: www.scottsbell47.com