Bell targets military market with 525 helicopter

PICTURES: Bell targets military market with 525 helicopter

25 AUGUST, 2017 SOURCE: FLIGHTGLOBAL.COM BY: DOMINIC PERRY LONDON

Bell Helicopter is pitching the in-development 525 Relentless to military customers as a 20-passenger troop transport or search and rescue (SAR) platform.

Although Bell has previously identified civil SAR and VIP transport missions as alternatives to the depressed oil and gas segment it initially aimed the 525 at, the airframer has so far not pursued military customers.

However, Larry Thimmesch, vice-president of 525 sales and business development, says the Relentless is ideal for utility missions.......Read rest of article: Here

Bell 525 Relentless

The Bell 525 Relentless, featuring the ARC Horizon flight deck system, provides unparalleled crew situational awareness through the use of a fully integrated avionics flight deck coupled with an advanced fly-by-wire flight control system, resulting in enhanced safety levels and mission capabilities. Source: Bell

Design and development

The Bell 525 is being developed to meet a requirement for a medium-lift helicopter. It will be constructed primarily from composites and metal and is to be the first commercial helicopter to incorporate fly-by-wire flight controls, with tactile cues. The system is triple redundant, and is developed in two simulator environments. The 525 will be powered by a pair of GE CT7-2F1 turboshaft engines, with a new composite five-blade main rotor system. The cost of the 525 has not yet been determined, but it is expected to be cost competitive on missions between 50 and 400 nmi, performed by helicopters such as the AgustaWestland AW139 and Sikorsky S-92.

CT7-2F1 turboshaft engines

The Bell 525 is designed to fit the emerging "Super-Medium" size category suited ideally to support offshore oil and gas operations, with 50% of the customers coming from that sector. Helicopters under development in the same class are the Airbus Helicopters H175 and the AgustaWestland AW189. The Bell 525's maiden flight was planned for late 2014. PHI, Inc. is the launch customer for the type.

After a six-month delay, the Bell 525 made its first flight on July 1, 2015. Bell expects certification in 2017. The FAA suggested special rules in May 2016. On July 6, 2016, a Bell 525 crashed during a test flight, killing both occupants. The aircraft broke up in flight while travelling about 229 mph at an altitude of about 2,000 feet. The crash delayed certification from 2017 to 2018. Source: wikiwand.com

Source: Bell