The Bell 429 GlobalRanger is a light, twin-engine helicopter developed by Bell Helicopter and Korea Aerospace Industries. The first flight of the prototype took place on February27, 2007, and the aircraft received type certification on July1, 2009. The Bell 429 is capable of single-pilot IFR and Runway CategoryA operations.

Development

The impetus for developing the Bell 429 came primarily from the emergency medical services (EMS) industry. The Bell 427 was originally intended to address this market, but the 427's small cabin size would not adequately accommodate a patient litter, and the systems did not support instrument flight rules (IFR) certification. Bell's original concept for the 429 was a stretched model 427 (unveiled as the Bell 427s3i at the 2004 HAI helicopter show), but this still did not provide what Bell and its customer advisers were looking for.

Bell abandoned the 427 airframe and went to its MAPL (Modular Affordable Product Line) concept airframe that was still in conceptual development at the time. The 429 employs the all-new modular airframe concept and the advanced rotor blade design from the MAPL program, but maintains a derivative engine and rotor drive system from the 427. The basic model includes a glass cockpit and is certified for single pilot IFR. Bell partnered with Korea Aerospace Industries and Mitsui Bussan Aerospace of Japan in the helicopter's development.

Bell 429 at the Singapore Air Show 2010

Bell had flown most of the critical MAPL technology components, using a 427 testbed aircraft, by February2006. The first completed 429 flew on February 27, 2007. Certification was originally planned for late 2007, but program schedule delays, primarily caused by parts and material shortages common to all aviation manufacturers in that time period, caused the manufacturer to stretch the development timetable. In October2007, the external configuration was set. In February2008, Bell had three 429s in flight testing that had completed 600flight hours. Its high-altitude testing was conducted in Colorado and its high-temperature testing in Arizona.

The helicopter received type certification from Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) on July1, 2009, and from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by July7, 2009. EASA certification was announced at Helitech on September 24, 2009. TCCA and authorities in some other countries later approved an increased weight exemption for the aircraft. However, FAA and EASA disagreed with the weight exemption, which had allowed the 429 to operate for the Canadian Coast Guard.

As of June 2009, the Bell 429 had received over 301 letters of intent. The launch customer was Air Methods Corporation, the largest medevac provider in the United States, which took one helicopter. On July 7, 2009, this aircraft (s/n 57006) was delivered to Air Methods (owner) and MercyOne (operator) at Bell's facility in Mirabel, Quebec.

Design

Bell 429 cockpit

The Bell 429 has a four-blade rotor system with soft-in-plane flex beams. The rotor blades are composite and have swept tips for reduced noise. The tail rotor is made by stacking two two-blade rotors set at uneven intervals (to form an X) for reduced noise. The combined cabin volume is 204ft3(5.8m3) with a 130ft3(3.7m3) passenger cabin and 74ft3(2.1m3) baggage area, with a flat floor for patient loading. A set of rear clamshell doors under the tailboom is optional for easier patient loading in EMS operations.

The 429 has a glass cockpit with a three-axis autopilot (optional fourth axis kit) and flight director as standard. Standard landing gear are skids. A retractable wheel landing gear is optional and adds five knots to cruising speed. The helicopter is categorized as a single-pilot IFR Category A. It is capable of operating with one engine inoperative. The main transmission is rated for 5,000 hours between overhauls and the tail rotor gearbox is rated for 3,200 hours.

Operational history

By July 2018, 325 aircraft had operated 330,000 hours for police forces, air medical teams, and militaries in 42countries, including Australia, France, Indonesia, Kuwait, Oman, Switzerland, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey, Thailand, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Operators

A Royal Australian Navy Bell 429

Military and government operators

Argentina

Australia

Canada

Indonesia

Jamaica

A Bell 429 of the New Zealand police

New Zealand

Oman

Philippines

A Bell 429 of the Slovak police

Slovakia

Sweden

Thailand

Turkey

United Kingdom

Bell 429 with retractable wheel landing gear
Bell 429 during rescue operation in Tatra mountains

United States

Tunisia

Other operators

Australia

  • Blesk Aviation

Specifications (Bell 429)

Cabin of a medical evacuation Bell 429

Data from Bell 429 brochure, Bell Helicopter 429 product specifications, Flug Revue Bell 429 page, Aviation Week

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 pilot
  • Capacity: 7 passengers (six in passenger compartment; one beside pilot) / 2,755lb (1,250kg) payload
  • Length: 41ft 8in (12.70m)
  • Height: 13ft 3in (4.04m)
  • Cabin volume: 204ft3 (5.78m3)
  • Empty weight: 4,245lb (1,925kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 7,500lb (3,402kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 215USgal (179impgal; 814L) usable with 40USgal (33impgal; 151L) auxiliary fuel
  • Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207D1 (or PW207D2 with fuel heater installed) turboshaft, 625shp (466kW) each maximum continuous

730shp (544kW) for take-off

  • Main rotor diameter: 36ft (11m)
  • Main rotor area: 1,018sqft (94.6m2)
  • Blade section: - Narramore

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 150kn (170mph, 280km/h)
  • Never exceed speed: 155kn (178mph, 287km/h)
  • Range: 390nmi (450mi, 720km)
  • Service ceiling: 20,000ft (6,100m)
  • Hover ceiling IGE: 14,130ft (4,307m)
  • Hover ceiling OGE: 11,280ft (3,438m)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

External links