Bell 407
Encyclopedia
The Bell 407 is a four-blade, single-engine, civil utility helicopter; a derivative of the Bell 206L-4 LongRanger
. The 407 uses the four-blade rotor with composite hub developed for the United States Army
's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
instead of the two-blade, semi-rigid rotor of the 206L-4. The Bell 407 is frequently used for corporate and offshore transport, as an air ambulance
, law enforcement, electronic news gathering
and movie making.
The demonstrator was first flown on April 21, 1994, and the 407 program was publicly announced at the Heli-Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, in January 1995. The first 407 prototype (C-GFOS) accomplished its maiden flight
on June 29, 1995, and the second prototype (C-FORS) followed on July 13, 1995. After a short development program, the first production 407 (C-FWQY/N407BT) flew on November 10, 1995.
The Bell 407 features the four-blade main rotor developed for the OH-58D (Model 406). The blades and hub use composite construction without life limits, and provide better performance and a more comfortable ride. The 407's fuselage is 8 inches (18 cm) wider, increasing internal cabin space, and includes main cabin windows that are 35% larger. The more powerful Rolls-Royce/Allison 250-C47 turboshaft allows an increase in Maximum Takeoff Weight and improves performance at hotter temperatures and/or higher altitudes. The 407's airframe is generally similar to the LongRanger, but includes a carbon fiber composite
tailboom. The helicopter has standard seating for two crew and five cabin seats.
The 407 was certificated by Transport Canada
on February 9, 1996, with the FAA
following shortly after on February 23. Full production begin in 1996 at Bell's Mirabel, Quebec
, Canada plant and produced 140 airframes in 1997, to fill the initial orders.
In 1995, Bell tested a shrouded tail rotor on the 407, but did not proceed. For a time, Bell studied developing the Model 407T twin-engine variant, but instead chose to develop the essentially all new twin PW206D powered Bell 427
.
Bell began deliveries of the 407 in 1996. The 1,000th helicopter was delivered on June 15, 2010.
was based on the 407, but was later canceled on October 16, 2008.
The Bell 417 was a growth variant of the Bell 407, in essence a civil version of the Bell ARH-70. The 417 made its first flight on June 8, 2006. The 417 was to be powered by a Honeywell HTS900
turboshaft engine, producing 970 shp and includes full FADEC
controls. The cabin will seat 5 passengers in club-seating configuration, in addition to the crew of two. The civilian 417 was canceled at Heli-Expo 2007 in Orlando.
Bell made delivery of the first production 407 at Heli-Expo, in Dallas, Texas in February 1996. Launch customers for the aircraft were Petroleum Helicopters, Niagara Helicopters, and Greenland Air.
On 23 May 2007, Colin Bodill and Jennifer Murray completed a record pole-to-pole around the world flight utilizing a standard Bell 407. The flight originated from Bell's facility at the Fort Worth Alliance Airport
on December 5, 2006. The team flew about 36000 miles (57,936.2 km) over 189 days and 300 flight hours, through 34 different countries. The project, named Polar First, was performed in partnership with the Royal Geographical Society
to provide educational outreach to 28 international schools, which were visited during the trip. The project also served as a fundraiser for the SOS Children's Villages
.
Bell 407 : A civil utility helicopter, a derivative of the Bell 206L-4.
ARH-70 : An upgraded 407 version to serve as an armed reconnaissance helicopter.
Bell 417 : Planned civil version of the ARH-70, was canceled.
Bell 407 Light Observation Helicopter : A military reconnaissance version.
Eagle 407 HP : Version from Eagle Copter (Alberta
, Canada
) with a more powerful Honeywell HTS900
engine, rated at 1021 shp.
MQ-8C Fire-X : An unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV) version being developed by Northrop Grumman
and Bell Helicopter as a cargo resupply demonstrator. The test aircraft flew on 10 December 2010 at the Yuma Proving Ground. In February 2011, the US Navy's budget request for 2012 included funds to buy 12 Fire-X helicopters under the designation MQ-8C.
Bell 407AH : An armed civil-certified version for use with government and security forces.
Bell 206
The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- or twin-engine helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, the 206 failed to be selected...
. The 407 uses the four-blade rotor with composite hub developed for the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
OH-58 Kiowa
The Bell OH-58 Kiowa is a family of single-engine, single-rotor, military helicopters used for observation, utility, and direct fire support. Bell Helicopter manufactured the OH-58 for the United States Army based on the 206A JetRanger helicopter. The OH-58 has been in continuous use by the U.S...
instead of the two-blade, semi-rigid rotor of the 206L-4. The Bell 407 is frequently used for corporate and offshore transport, as an air ambulance
Air ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
, law enforcement, electronic news gathering
Electronic news gathering
ENG is a broadcasting industry acronym which stands for electronic news gathering. It can mean anything from a lone broadcast journalist reporter taking a single professional video camera out to shoot a story, to an entire television crew taking a production truck or satellite truck on location...
and movie making.
Design and development
In 1993, Bell began the development of the New Light Aircraft as a replacement for its Model 206 series. The program resulted in the 407, a development of Bell's LongRanger. A 206L-3 LongRanger was modified to serve as the 407 demonstrator. The demonstrator used hardware for the 407 and added molded fairings to represent the 407's wider fuselage then under development.The demonstrator was first flown on April 21, 1994, and the 407 program was publicly announced at the Heli-Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, in January 1995. The first 407 prototype (C-GFOS) accomplished its maiden flight
Maiden flight
The maiden flight of an aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord. This is similar to a ship's maiden voyage....
on June 29, 1995, and the second prototype (C-FORS) followed on July 13, 1995. After a short development program, the first production 407 (C-FWQY/N407BT) flew on November 10, 1995.
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer
Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer or carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic , is a very strong and light fiber-reinforced polymer which contains carbon fibers. The polymer is most often epoxy, but other polymers, such as polyester, vinyl ester or nylon, are sometimes used...
tailboom. The helicopter has standard seating for two crew and five cabin seats.
The 407 was certificated by Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
on February 9, 1996, with the FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
following shortly after on February 23. Full production begin in 1996 at Bell's Mirabel, Quebec
Mirabel, Quebec
Mirabel is a city in Quebec, Canada. It is an off-island suburb north-west of Montreal.Mirabel is also the name of a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality and census division of Quebec, coextensive with the city of Mirabel. Its geographical code is 74.Mirabel's population was...
, Canada plant and produced 140 airframes in 1997, to fill the initial orders.
Bell 427
|-See also:-References:* . Bell Helicopter-External links:*...
.
Bell began deliveries of the 407 in 1996. The 1,000th helicopter was delivered on June 15, 2010.
ARH-70/Bell 417
The ARH-70 armed reconnaissance helicopter, developed for the U.S. ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
was based on the 407, but was later canceled on October 16, 2008.
The Bell 417 was a growth variant of the Bell 407, in essence a civil version of the Bell ARH-70. The 417 made its first flight on June 8, 2006. The 417 was to be powered by a Honeywell HTS900
Honeywell HTS900
-External links:* *...
turboshaft engine, producing 970 shp and includes full FADEC
FADEC
Full Authority Digital Engine Control is a system consisting of a digital computer, called an electronic engine controller or engine control unit , and its related accessories that control all aspects of aircraft engine performance...
controls. The cabin will seat 5 passengers in club-seating configuration, in addition to the crew of two. The civilian 417 was canceled at Heli-Expo 2007 in Orlando.
Operational history
On 23 May 2007, Colin Bodill and Jennifer Murray completed a record pole-to-pole around the world flight utilizing a standard Bell 407. The flight originated from Bell's facility at the Fort Worth Alliance Airport
Fort Worth Alliance Airport
Fort Worth Alliance Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located north of the central business district of Fort Worth, city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States....
on December 5, 2006. The team flew about 36000 miles (57,936.2 km) over 189 days and 300 flight hours, through 34 different countries. The project, named Polar First, was performed in partnership with the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
to provide educational outreach to 28 international schools, which were visited during the trip. The project also served as a fundraiser for the SOS Children's Villages
SOS Children's Villages
SOS Children's Villages is an independent, non-governmental international development organisation which has been working to meet the needs and protect the interests and rights of children since 1949. It was founded by Hermann Gmeiner in Imst, Austria...
.
Variants
ARH-70 : An upgraded 407 version to serve as an armed reconnaissance helicopter.
Bell 417 : Planned civil version of the ARH-70, was canceled.
Bell 407 Light Observation Helicopter : A military reconnaissance version.
Eagle 407 HP : Version from Eagle Copter (Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) with a more powerful Honeywell HTS900
Honeywell HTS900
-External links:* *...
engine, rated at 1021 shp.
MQ-8C Fire-X : An unmanned aerial vehicle
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
(UAV) version being developed by Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop. The company was the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world as of 2010, and the largest builder of naval vessels. Northrop Grumman employs over...
and Bell Helicopter as a cargo resupply demonstrator. The test aircraft flew on 10 December 2010 at the Yuma Proving Ground. In February 2011, the US Navy's budget request for 2012 included funds to buy 12 Fire-X helicopters under the designation MQ-8C.
Bell 407AH : An armed civil-certified version for use with government and security forces.
Operators
- Air Force of El SalvadorAir Force of El SalvadorThe Salvadoran Air Force the air force of the Armed Forces of El Salvador, and is independent from the army and navy. It was formed on 20 March 1923 during a period of heavy interest in aviation in El Salvador. In 1947 after signing the treaty of Rio...
operates one Bell 407 as of January 2010.
- Aerocentro operates Bell 407s.
- Iraqi Air ForceIraqi Air ForceThe Iraqi Air Force or IQAF is the military branch in Iraq responsible for the policing of international borders, surveillance of national assets and aerial operations...
placed an order for three Bell 407s for modification to an armed scout helicopter (similar to the canceled ARH-70) on February 18, 2009. A contract for 24 additional Bell 407s with an option for 26 more was awarded in April 2009. On September 23, 2009, Bell received a contract for three Bell 407s to serve as trainers for Armed 407 program. The U.S. Army is managing modifications and installation of military equipment on the helicopters.
- Jamaica Defence ForceJamaica Defence ForceThe Jamaica Defence Force is the combined military forces of Jamaica, consisting of an Army, Air Wing and Coast Guard. The JDF is based upon the British military model with organisation, training, weapons and traditions closely aligned with Commonwealth Realm countries...
Air Wing has three 407s in service as of January 2010.
- United Arab Emirates Air ForceUnited Arab Emirates Air ForceThe United Arab Emirates Air Force is the air force of the United Arab Emirates . Its predecessor was established in 1968, when the Emirates were still under British rule. Since then, it has undergone a continual reorganization and expansion in terms of both capability and numbers of aircraft...
has one 407 in use as of January 2010.
- Arizona Department of Public SafetyArizona Department of Public SafetyArizona Department of Public Safety is a law enforcement agency with its usual focus being protection of all Arizona highways. The current Director is Robert C. Halliday, a previously retired DPS commander, who began his 5-year term in February 2010...
- Fairfax County Police Department (Virginia)
- Federal Bureau of InvestigationFederal Bureau of InvestigationThe Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
- Howard County Police Department (Maryland)
- Kansas Highway Patrol
- Michigan State PoliceMichigan State PoliceThe Michigan State Police is the state police agency for the state of Michigan. The MSP is a full service law enforcement agency with its sworn members having full police powers statewide....
- New York State PoliceNew York State PoliceThe New York State Police is the state police force of over 4,600 sworn Troopers for the state of New York. It was established on April 11, 1917 by the New York Legislature, in response to the 1913 murder of a construction foreman named Sam Howell in Westchester County, which at that time did not...
- Puerto Rico Police Department
- San Diego County Sheriff's DepartmentSan Diego County Sheriff's DepartmentThe San Diego County Sheriff's Department, commonly known as the SDSO, is the primary and largest law enforcement agency in San Diego County, California. It is composed of approximately 4,000 sworn deputies and civilian support personnel...
- Tampa Police DepartmentTampa Police DepartmentThe Tampa Police Department provides crime prevention and public safety services for the city of Tampa, Florida. The Tampa Police Department has over 1000 authorized sworn law enforcement personnel positions and more than 350 civilian and support staff personnel positions.Uniformed officers are...
- Virginia Beach Police Department (Virginia)Virginia Beach Police Department (Virginia)The Virginia Beach Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency servicing 437,994 people within of jurisdiction within Virginia Beach, VA.-Special Operations Bureau:Special Operations is a bureau under the Police Operations Division...
- Westchester County Department of Public SafetyWestchester County Department of Public SafetySee article: Law enforcement in Westchester CountyThe Westchester County Department of Public Safety was created in 1979 by merging the Westchester County Sheriff's Office with the Westchester County Parkway Police....
- LifeStar / Northwest Texas Healthcare System in Amarillo, TX
- Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficePalm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeThe Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is the largest law enforcement agency in Palm Beach County, Florida. With more than 4,000 employees and 4,300 volunteers, the department provides police services for more than 680,000 residents in the county's unincorporated areas as well as more than 120,000...
Specifications (Bell 407)