Bell Helicopter's new Bell 505 short light single (SLS) made its maiden flight in Canada, the company announced today.
The flight took place at Bell's facility in Mirabel, Quebec.
"Bell Helicopter pioneered the short light single market, and here we are nearly 50 years later, changing the way the world flies once again,” said Matt Hasik, senior vice president of commercial programs at Bell Helicopter. “We have seen tremendous response from the market for the Bell 505, and today’s exciting flight marks another step toward delivering the high-performance, high-value aircraft our customers have been asking for.”
“The Bell 505 performed exactly as anticipated today,” said Yann Lavalle, senior flight test pilot at Bell Helicopter. “I am excited to be a part of the history of the Jet Ranger legacy, an aircraft that defined the market nearly 50 years ago.”
The test flight consisted of hovering, low-speed controllability and two circuits. The top speed on the 30-minute test was only 60 knots.
The Bell 505, also known as the Jet Ranger X, is a five-seat, single-engine, turbine that is designed to be the safest and easiest aircraft to fly in its category while still remaining affordably priced. It has a projected cruise speed of 125+ knots, a range of over 360 nm and useful load of 680 kg.