Bell Helicopter and Mecaer have unveiled a new VIP interior for the 505 Jet Ranger X, adding to the MAGnificent cabins already offered on the larger 429 and 525.
“It offers customers something that really makes the 505 a single-engined VIP aircraft,” says Chuck Evans, director of marketing sales and support.
Mecaer will offer several different configurations for the normally five-seat helicopter, but will have a smaller number of options than are available on the larger twin-engined models.
In addition, the Silens noise reduction system, which is a key part of the MAGnificent interior on the 429 and 525, will not feature on the 505.
“It’s more about style and appearance on the interior,” says Grayson Barrows, sales and marketing director at Mecaer. “That’s the demand.”
He estimates that about 40-50% of Jet Ranger Xs could be fitted with the MAGnificent interior. “The standard helicopter comes with a very basic interior and we are hearing from clients that they want the same style and comfort on the 505 that they can have on the 429 and 525,” says Barrows.
Certification for the Safran Arrius 2R-powered 505 is scheduled for 2016, Evans confirms, with first delivery to follow shortly after.
Production has now started at the manufacturer’s plant in Mirabel, Canada, following its transfer from Lafayette, Louisiana earlier this year.
Barrows estimates that the completion process for the MAGnificent interior could take as little as a week and cost “less than 10%” of the 505’s list price.
Meanwhile, Bell has given a North American debut to the 525 MAGnificent followings its official unveiling at the Monaco Yacht Show in October.
As well as the Silens technology and a range of seating layouts and styles, the Relentless also uses Mecaer’s iFeel system which enables a passenger to control the cabin environment, including the dimmable windows, using an app on their mobile phone.
Larry Thimmesch, vice-president of 525 sales, says the interior combines with the helicopter’s class-leading performance characteristics and low levels of vibration to produce an “ideal VIP aircraft”.
“Your experience is really enhanced when you fly in one of these aircraft,” adds general manager of business development Armando Sassoli.
Both remaining 525 flight-test aircraft remain grounded following the fatal loss of the initial flight-test article in July.
Source: Flight Daily News
