Bell 429 - Light Twin Helicopter,

Tag : rotor spinning

The Bell 429 incorporates a range of advanced technologiesdeveloped under Bell's Modular Affordable Product Line (MAPL)program to include advanced main rotor blades, an Aircraft DataInterface Unit (ADIU), autopilot and hydraulics.
The Bell 429 brought the use of MAPL technologies forward threeyears from the initial target date.
Features include: wide, unobstructed, cabin of volume 200ft³;seating for up to seven passengers allowing a wide variety ofapplications; single pilot instrument flight rule / cat A /optional Night Vision Goggle (NVG) configuration (which willrequire USG export license); integrated sliding doors and optionalclam shell doors for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) operations
Two helicopter mock-up models were first displayed at the Heli-Expoair show in Anaheim in February 2005. The first flight of thehelicopter took place in February 2007. By February 2008, three 429flight test aircraft had flown over 600 flight test hours. TCAA andFAA certification are scheduled for the end of 2008 and deliveriesin early 2009. Orders have been received for over 270 helicopters,including CJ Systems Aviation Group (ten plus ten options) for airmedical services, AirM