Bell 429

Infobox Aircraft
name= Bell 429


caption= Bell 429 Mock-up
type=Multipurpose utility helicopter
manufacturer=Bell Helicopter Textron
designer=
first flight= February 27 2006 [http://www.flug-revue.rotor.com/FRTypen/FRB429.htm Flug Revue] ]
introduced=
retired=
status=Active service
primary user=
more users=
produced=
number built=
unit cost=
developed from= Bell 427
variants with their own articles=

The Bell 429 is a light-twin helicopter currently under development as a stretched derivative of the Bell 427. First flight of the prototype took place on February 27, 2007, [http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/personalcorporate/exectransport/9818.html "Bell Flies 429, Stretches Program", "Rotor & Wing", April, 2007] ] and Bell is planning on certification by the end of 2008. ["Rotor Beat", "Vertical Magazine", May 2008]

Development

The impetus for developing the Bell 429 came primarily from the emergency medical services (EMS) industry, which has been looking for an updated helicopter. 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 will include a glass cockpit and will be certified for single pilot IFR. Bell is also partnering with Korea Aerospace Industries and Mitsui Bussan Aerospace of Japan in the helicopter's development.

Bell had flown most of the critical MAPL technology components using a 427 test bed aircraft by February 2006. The first completed 429 flew February 27, 2007, with certificate and first deliveries expected in 2008. Certification was originally hoped completed for late 2007, but program schedule delays, primarily caused by parts and material shortages common to all aviation manufacturers in this time period, caused the manufacturer to stretch the development timetable.

As of February 2008, the Bell 429 had received over 260 orders. [ [http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/company/pressReleases/PR_08_0224-07Bell429update4HAI.cfm Bell Provides 429 Program Update] , Bell press release, February 24, 2008. Retrieved March 2, 2008.] The launch customer for the Bell 429 is Air Methods Corporation, the largest medevac provider in the United States.

Design

;Features:
* Soft-in-plane flex beam 4-blade rotor system; composite rotor blades feature swept tips for reduced noise
* Twin, "Stacked" two-bladed tailrotor design, set at un-even intervals for reduced noise
* 200-cu-ft cabin with flat floor for patient loading
* Optional aft clamshell doors (under tail boom) for ease of patient loading
* Single pilot IFR certified glass cockpit with 3-axis autopilot and flight director standard, 4-axis autopilot optional
* Skid gear standard, retractable wheel landing gear optional

pecifications (Bell 429)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=copter
jet or prop?=prop

ref=Bell Helicopters 429 product specs [ [http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/aircraft/commercial/bell429_prodSpecs.cfm Bell 429 product specs] ] , Flug Revue Bell 429 page

crew=1 pilot
capacity=7 passengers
length main=41 ft 8 in
length alt= 12.7 m
span main= in
span alt= m
height main=13 ft 3 in
height alt= 4.04 m
area main=
area alt=
airfoil=
empty weight main= 4,300 lb
empty weight alt= 1,950 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main= 2,700 lb
useful load alt= 1,225 kg
max takeoff weight main= 7,000 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 3,175 kg
more general=

engine (prop)= Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207D1
type of prop=turboshaft
number of props=2
power main= 625 shp
power alt=466.06 kW
power original=710 shp takeoff power

max speed main=
max speed alt=
max speed more=
cruise speed main= 147 knots
cruise speed alt= 273 km/h
cruise speed more=wheel gear config.
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 350 nmi, 304 mi
range alt= 648 km
ceiling main= 18,690 ft
ceiling alt= 5,698 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=

armament=
avionics=

References

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Bell 407
* Bell 427

similar aircraft=
lists=
see also=

External links

* [http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/aircraft/commercial/bell429.cfm Bell 429 on manufacturer's site]
* [http://www.flug-revue.rotor.com/FRTypen/FRB429.htm Flug Revue Bell 429 page]
* [http://ain.gcnpublishing.com/content/news/single-news-page/article/bell-429-flight-tests-gather-momentum/?no_cache=1&cHash=62e1956803 Bell 429 flight tests gather momentum]
* [http://ain.gcnpublishing.com/content/news/single-news-page/article/bell-429-showcases-mapl-technology/?no_cache=1&cHash=f84c7602fb Bell 429 showcases MAPL technology]