Bell Poised To Deliver First Production Jet Ranger X

Bell Helicopter has rolled out its first production 505 Jet Ranger X light single in Mirabel, Quebec, and the ship will be delivered "soon." The helicopter in question made its first flight—unpainted—on January 22. The 505 gained preliminary type certificate approval from Transport Canada in December.

Bell holds more than 400 letters of intent for the 505 and is in the process of converting them into firm orders. Company CEO Mitch Snyder said late last year that he expected Bell to produce approximately 50 of the 505s this year and for the helicopter to have a base price of "around" $1 million. More than 100 Bell Mirabel employees are working on the 505.

Referring to the 505, Navdeep Bains, Canada's minister of innovation, science, and economic development, said, "Our government's support for innovation in the aerospace sector is a key part of our plan to drive economic growth." The Canadian government noted that nearly 80 percent of the aerospace products made in Canada are exported and that the country's aerospace industry contributes more than $28 billion and 211,000 jobs nationally.