Bell Leaders, City Officials Gathered At Hangar For Celebration

Bell Textron announced the delivery of a second Bell 505 to the Fort Worth Police Department in a celebration in the department’s hangar at Meacham International Airport (KFTW). Executives from Bell and city officials attended the festivities and praised the relationship between Bell and the city of Fort Worth, which goes back nearly 75 years.

In 1951, Lawrence D. Bell built the Bell Aircraft Corporation’s helicopter division in Fort Worth and named it Bell Helicopter. After several consolidation and modernizations in the intervening 75 years, Bell established new facilities in Fort Worth that support advanced manufacturing operations. Bell currently employs about 4,000 people in North Texas and continues to provide long-term economic growth and highly skilled jobs to the region.

Danny Maldonado, Chief Commercial Officer and incoming Bell CEO said, “All of us at Bell value our long-standing relationships with the city of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Police Department, and we are proud to be a partner in supporting the city’s public safety initiatives and advancing the department’s impact with this added capability. Nearly 75 years after Bell’s move to Fort Worth, this city remains home for us, and we look forward to seeing this new aircraft serve the citizens of Fort Worth.”

The Fort Worth PD Air Support Unit has operated a series of Bell aircraft since 1968 including Bell 47s and Bell 206 Jet Rangers. The department accepted delivery of its first Bell 505 in 2021, and the second aircraft will further enhance the operational performance of the police department while playing a vital role in supporting diverse missions across the city.

Mattie Parker, Mayor of Fort Worth said, "We take so much pride in the city of Fort Worth's strong, lasting partnership with Bell, and it's fitting that today we are celebrating the delivery of the top-tier Bell 505 helicopter to one of the best police departments in the nation. This new addition to the Fort Worth Police Department will ensure officers have the advanced capabilities, safety enhancements, and operational reach they need to serve and protect our community with even greater efficiency and urgency."

FMI:  www.bellflight.com/