On the eve of this year’s Helitech exhibition in London, we dive into Flightglobal’s Ascend Fleets database for a look at the most popular civil turbine types flying.

No surprise, type longevity is a factor – and the prevalence of Bell models points to the marque’s huge heritage, even if recent years have seen it upstaged in the market. Data source: Flightglobal’s Ascend Fleets

1. Bell 206

3,610 in service; 15% of the world fleet (entry into service: 1967)

Bell 206L4 c Bell

206L4

Bell Helicopter

2. Airbus Helicopters AS350

3,399; 14% (1967)

AS350

AS350

Airbus Helicopters

3. Mil Mi-8

1,898; 8% (1967)

Mi-8 - Croatian defence ministry

Mi-8

Croatian Defence Ministry

4. Bell 407

1,217; 5% (1996)

Bell 407 c BELL

407

Bell Helicopter

5. MD Helicopters MD 500

1,148; 5% (1982)

MD 500 c MD Helicopters use this one

MD 500

MD Helicopters

6. Bell 212/412

1,067; 4% (1981)

Heliwest Bell 212

Bell 212

Bell Helicopter

7. Airbus Helicopters EC135

1,021; 4% (1996)

Aviator EC135

EC135

Airbus Helicopters

8. AgustaWestland AW109

963; 4% (1976)

AW109power

AW109 Power

AgustaWestland

9. AgustaWestland AW139

643; 3% (2003)

AW139

AW139

AgustaWestland

10. Bell UH-1

638; 3% (1959)

Bell 205 c Alan Radecki + wikimedia commons

205A++

Alan Radecki/wikimedia commons

Source: FlightGlobal.com