Bell 210 Increases Performance, Decreases DOC

Bell Helicopter Chief Executive Officer Mike Redenbaugh has announced that Bell will develop and manufacture a fully certified Bell model 210 Medium Utility Helicopter. The new aircraft will provide a significant increase capability over comparative models at greatly reduced direct operating costs.

In making the announcement Mr. Redenbaugh said, "The Bell 210 is the perfect solution for the many agencies that use the UH-1H in utility, Homeland Security law enforcement or firefighting capacities. It combines great performance with an existing logistical base, an unbeatable DOC and a tremendously low initial acquisition cost. Add to that complete FAA certification and the Bell 210 is truly the best total value proposition to be found in the market today."

Much of the Bell 210 is based on the highly successful Huey II program. Many of the modifications and upgrades that result in the Bell 210 are the same that go into the Huey II. The success of the Huey II program, with more than 100 conversions currently flying worldwide, confirms the viability of the certified Bell 210 in the US market. The primary differences between the Bell 210 and the Huey II are the inclusion of different actuators, nose assembly and a new electrical system and the receipt of FAA certification.

The Bell 210 has also attracted the attention of the U.S. Army. There are many missions now supported by the US Army with aging assets that are marked for reduction in the coming years that the Bell 210 could more economically perform.

These Army Light Utility Helicopters will perform future utility missions for non combat organizations (TDA), National Guard utility, drug interdiction efforts (RAID), and Homeland Defense (HLD) missions.

The Bell 210 is a civil certified version of the U.S. Army UH-1H. Starting with a refurbished UH-1H fuselage, Bell Helicopter adds dynamic components from the Bell 212 (main rotor hub and blades, tail rotor, main and tail rotor support structure, transmission, rotating controls, and tail boom), and an FAA certified Honeywell T5317 engine providing a zero-time FAA certified single engine medium utility helicopter.

Cost of the Bell 210 will be approximately $3 million. A comparable Huey-sized off the shelf commercial aircraft would cost approximately $5 million. The Bell 210 will have a useful load that is 640 lbs higher than the UH-1H, 400 shaft horsepower increased horsepower available, and the DOC will be about $530 an hour, considerably less than other aircraft in the same class. Plans call for certification to be complete in mid 2005.

FMI: http://www.bellhelicopter.textron.com