Landmark Delivery: Bell Unveils the 505th Bell 505 Aircraft
Bell Textron Inc., a subsidiary of Textron Inc., has revealed today the acquisition of the 505th Bell 505 rotorcraft by North America-based operator, Austin Claborn. The aircraft will be tailored for corporate transport.
“To commemorate this remarkable program milestone, Bell aimed to make the 505th handover a significant occasion for our numerous employees who have contributed to this program, our suppliers, and our esteemed Bell 505 clientele,” expressed Lane Evans, director of North America Sales. “The Bell 505 was crafted to furnish clients with unparalleled operating costs and remarkable performance relative to its investment. Mr. Claborn has been a Bell 505 pilot since 2021, and with the upgrade to the latest platform version, Bell is delighted that the aircraft consistently meets our customers’ expectations.”
Approved by Transport Canada in 2016, the Bell 505 stands as one of Bell’s most rapidly expanding commercial initiatives to date. The fleet of aircraft has eclipsed over 185,000 flight hours, with machines operating across six continents globally.
“The Bell 505 has proven to be outstanding for us,” remarked Austin Claborn. “The innovative technology in the cockpit renders the aircraft exceptionally dependable and straightforward to operate. The Bell team has exemplified tremendous commitment to client service, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to partake in the 505th handover.”
The delivery event occurred at the Bell Textron Canada Ltd. plant in Mirabel, Quebec, where over 1,400 highly proficient staff oversee Bell’s ongoing commercial manufacturing line, which includes the Bell 505, Bell 407GXi, Bell 429, and SUBARU Bell 412EPX. To date, the corporation has manufactured and delivered more than 5,800 commercial helicopters.
With an impressive velocity of 125 knots (232 km/h) and a useful load capacity of 1,500 pounds (680 kg), the Bell 505 is Bell’s latest five-seat aircraft engineered for excellence, efficiency, and dependability by employing advanced avionics technology. It integrates reliable dynamic components, sophisticated aerodynamic design, a dual-channel FADEC Safran Arrius 2R engine, and offers outstanding value.
