21-Jul-2015 Source: HeliHub.com
Bell are clearly putting lots of resources into the 505 JetRanger X program, and a third prototype is now flying in a bright purple colour – just eight months after the first aircraft took to the sky. It joins the orange example which was the first in the air and the lime green second aircraft which was the first to make a public flying appearance. These three join the trio of mockups in red, white and dark blue which toured various air shows and conferences in all corners of the globe.
Anyone want to place money on the next colour to appear? Yellow or Pink, perhaps?
Just for completeness, here they are
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And as Bell say….. The Bell 505, which first flew November 10, 2014, is a five-seat, single-engine, turbine helicopter leveraging Bell Helicopter’s proven technology and nearly half a century of experience. Its fully flat floor, increased cabin volume and clam shell doors provide the configuration flexibility needed in today’s market. The customer-driven design of the aircraft places safety, performance and affordability at its forefront, blending proven systems with advanced technology and a sleek, modern design. Pilot workload is further reduced by the Turbomeca Arrius 2R engine with dual channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC). The Bell 505 features a high inertia rotor system delivering superior auto rotation capabilities. With the ideal combination of speed, range and useful load, the Jet Ranger X is designed to deliver best-in-class performance.
Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com
