Cheaper By The Dozen(s)? -- Bell 429 Order Book Reaches 136 | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-11.24.25

AirborneNextGen-
11.18.25

Airborne-Unlimited-11.19.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-11.20.25

AirborneUnlimited-11.21.25

LIVE MOSAIC Town Hall (Archived): www.airborne-live.net

Wed, Nov 09, 2005

Cheaper By The Dozen(s)? -- Bell 429 Order Book Reaches 136

With 136 orders for the Bell 429 on the books, Bill Stromberg, Executive Director of Commercial Program Management and program manager for Bell's 429, reports that the helicopter is meeting all performance, weight, and schedule commitments.

"With this helicopter, we really listened to what the customer wanted and needed in a light twin helicopter, and the customers have responded favorably" Stromberg said. "The voice of the customer is reflected in every aspect of this aircraft from increased safety, reliability and payload capabilities to state-of-the-art glass cockpit, mission flexibility and a large, open cabin capable of easier loading and unloading of passengers or patients."

The Bell 429 offers the volume of an intermediate sized aircraft with the operating costs of the light twin. It has several industry leading characteristics designed to satisfy our customers needs including:

  • Wide, unobstructed, best in class cabin volume-200 cu ft
  • Flat, open cabin to optimize mission flexibility
  • Seating for 7 passengers plus 1 pilot-allowing for a wide variety of applications
  • Integrated sliding doors and optional clamshell doors for EMS operations
  • SPIFR/Cat A/Optional NVG configuration (will require USG export license)

Program development is proceeding on schedule with TCA and FAA certification expected to be in the 3rd quarter of 2007. Modified 427 Prototypes are flying various 429 components with first flight of the 429 airframe scheduled for the 3rd quarter of 2006. Bell has successfully completed concept demonstration tests, wind tunnel tests and inlet and exhaust testing. 

Detail design is near completion and parts and tooling are being built to construct the first prototype.

Preliminary information indicates the following flight performance characteristics

  • Range-350 nm / Endurance-3.8 hours
  • HOGE-9,300 ft.
  • Empty Weight-4,300 lb / Useful Load-2,700 lb

The following kits are among a long list of optional equipment that are expected to be offered in the 429:

  • Cargo Hook Capacity-3,000 lb
  • 600 lb retractable hoist, outside skids
  • 2-patient capability with both attendants at patients head
  • High and low skid gear
  • Optional retractable-wheeled landing gear
  • Tail rotor guard
  • High density seating (9 plus one pilot)
FMI: www.bellhelicopter.textron.com

Advertisement

More News

NTSB Prelim: Funk B85C

According To The Witness, Once The Airplane Landed, It Continued To Roll In A Relatively Straight Line Until It Impacted A Tree In His Front Yard On November 4, 2025, about 12:45 e>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (11.21.25)

"In the frame-by-frame photos from the surveillance video, the left engine can be seen rotating upward from the wing, and as it detaches from the wing, a fire ignites that engulfs >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (11.21.25): Radar Required

Radar Required A term displayed on charts and approach plates and included in FDC NOTAMs to alert pilots that segments of either an instrument approach procedure or a route are not>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: ScaleBirds Seeks P-36 Replica Beta Builders

From 2023 (YouTube Edition): It’s a Small World After All… Founded in 2011 by pilot, aircraft designer and builder, and U.S. Air Force veteran Sam Watrous, Uncasville,>[...]

Airborne 11.21.25: NTSB on UPS Accident, Shutdown Protections, Enstrom Update

Also: UFC Buys Tecnams, Emirates B777-9 Buy, Allegiant Pickets, F-22 And MQ-20 The NTSB's preliminary report on the UPS Flight 2976 crash has focused on the left engine pylon's sep>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC