JULY 2018 73
of 2,030kg is approx 3,500ft at ISA
conditions at takeoff power (5 mins).
The 1,000ft/min vertical climb out of
Armidale at close to max internal gross
weight (1,670kg) with max continuous
power is at least promising in terms of
the extra power margin still left.
Dan indicated that a NZ operator
conducting fertiliser spreading
operations has set its aircraft up in a
utility config and is regularly lifting
with 725-775kg external loads and
have gone up to 850kg on the hook.
Cost
The upfront cost for a Bell 505
including normal options for
Australian customers and conditions
and which includes one week of Bell
factory pilot training will see you
looking around the US$1.5 million
mark.
Bell sales material includes an
operating cost table showing a
US$441.14 per flight hour running
cost. Conklin and de Decker’s Aircraft
Cost Evaluator puts it at US$472 per
hour, compared to US$588 for a Bell
206L4, US$628 for the Airbus H130,
US$494 for Airbus H120 and US$377
for the Robinson R66.
Bell offers OEM Standard and
Premier maintenance care plans
which push the 1,000hrs/3yrs
warranty out to 2,000hrs/3yrs and
include such things as priority access
to parts. On the Premier plan one of
the advantages is that Bell will send
you the parts for a scheduled servicing
in advance based on your flying rate to
minimise downtime.
Major component times are listed
in product specs for the Bell 505 and
available off the website. Component
times are still part of a Lead-the-
Fleet extension program and as flight
hours are accrued on the Bell training
aircraft (likely to be the highest hours)
and fleetwide, then additional life may
be added to components.
Routine scheduled maintenance
includes a lubrication servicing every
50 hours and inspections at every 100
hours.Wrap up
What a great way to spend the day by
flying down the east coast in a brand
new helicopter and learning more
about it on the way.
The 505 is a very nice update to
the Jet Ranger family with some
major standouts. The huge amount
of perspex all the way round gives a
sensational unobstructed view paired
with the open single area cabin. The
fifth seat helps a lot with tours and
charters in keeping couples together.
The dual-channel FADEC is
turbine engines on easy mode. It isgoing to be great for private pilot
owners and low-hour tour pilots.
Hopefully there are lower insurance
premiums or minimums that flow
from this. Having the one power gauge
that incorporates multiple limits frees
up a lot of attention too.
The additional 360kg maximum
external gross weight increase means
that when you are operating at the
lower internal only gross weight there
is going to be an excess power margin
available at Australian elevations.
The new external cabin shape and
short skid combo will still be a talking
point for a while. How much it matters
to prospective passengers or if they
will care is debatable. For industry
types I think once more are flying in
country and people get to see them
more often that the cabin shape will
become more familiar and normalised.
I’m not at this stage a fan of the
stiff control feel but that might be
something you get used to with extra
time in the seat.
I’d jump at the chance to get
another flight and it’s great to see
more technology find its way into
smaller helicopters in an age of
smartphones, self-landing rockets and
electric cars.
If you see a 505 landed somewhere
near you, you really do want to make
the effort to go take a look inside.‘It’s great
to see more
technology
find its way
into smaller
helicopters.’
Bell 505 and Robinson R44 at
Rotortech.PAUL SADLER