Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopter debuts in Japan

TOKYO, Japan, 14 June 2016.Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, has unveiled the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo. This is the first time the Bell 505 has been on display in Japan and marks the beginning of a four-month demonstration tour across the region.

Bell Helicopter leadership was available onsite at the unveiling to discuss the aircraft and its versatile capabilities.

“Customers throughout Japan continue to have a strong interest in the Bell 505’s capabilities, and we are thrilled to showcase this state-of-the-art aircraft to our customers here,” explains Richard Thornley, Bell Helicopter’s vice president of Japan. “The aircraft continues to exceed performance expectations, and will undoubtedly continue to draw attention from our customers.”

The aircraft was on display for a two-day event at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, providing visitors an up-close view of the aircraft. Over the course of the next four months, the Bell 505 will be showcased at various customer sites and events in Japan, the United States Embassy and the Japan International Aerospace Exhibition 2016.

“With advancements in safety, performance, and capability and the price point, the Bell 505 is proving to be a leader in the short light single market around the world. In Japan, we have already received significant interest from many customers,” Thornley adds.

With a cruise speed of 125 knots (232 km/h), range of 360 nautical miles (667 km) and useful load of 1,500 pounds (608 kg), the Bell 505 is designed to be safe and easy to fly while providing significant value to the operator. The customer-driven design of the aircraft places safety, performance, and affordability at the forefront, blending proven systems with advanced technology and a sleek, modern design.

The Garmin G1000H Integrated Avionics Suite provides pilots critical flight information at a glance to maximize situational awareness. Pilot workload is further reduced by the Turbomeca Arrius 2R engine with dual-channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC).

Bell Helicopter Co. Ltd. was established in Japan in January 2014 for the primary purpose of building upon long-term customer and partner relationships to the benefit of Japan’s rotorcraft market. Bell Helicopter’s office in Tokyo serves as a hub for sales, marketing, and aftermarket service efforts. Customers in Japan are also supported by authorized Customer Service Facilities Fuji Heavy Industries, Naka Nihon, and Aero Asahi.

Bell Helicopter is committed to having resources where customers operate to speed up delivery of service and support, and give customers access to service professionals that are easy to reach, know the operating environment and understand their needs.

Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is a producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical-lift aircraft and the tiltrotor aircraft. Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial, and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Bad Boy Off Road, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training.