What's special about the modern helicopters Vietnam bought from the US?
The director of the Northern Helicopter Company said that the US-made Bell 505 helicopter will be put into operation in the near future.
According to initial information, the contract signing ceremony for the purchase of Bell 505 helicopters between the Vietnam Helicopter Corporation, the Northern Helicopter Company, and Bell Helicopter Group took place in October 2017.
The company is expected to receive the aircraft by the end of December 2018, and these modern helicopters will arrive in Vietnam in the first quarter of 2019, where they will be deployed and operated by the Vietnam Helicopter Corporation - Brigade 18.
This is a significant event, marking a turning point for the Vietnam Helicopter Corporation because it is the first time the unit has operated helicopters manufactured in the United States, alongside helicopters originating from Russia, Poland, and Europe.
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| Bell 505 Jet Range X light multi-purpose helicopter. |
The Bell 505 Jet Range X is Bell Helicopter's newest light helicopter model, first introduced at the 2013 Paris Airshow and only commercially available in 2017.
The aircraft is 10.53 m long, 1.52 m wide, and 3.25 m high. The length of the lifting rotor is 11.28 m, and the rotor shaft has a maximum tilt of 3.5 degrees, while the tail rotor is 1.65 m long. If measured from the tip of the lifting rotor to the tip of the tail, the Bell 505 is nearly 13 m long, which is equivalent to three Toyota Innova cars lined up end-to-end.
At the heart of the Bell 505 is the highly efficient Safran HE Arrius 2R engine, delivering a maximum power of 505 horsepower. It achieves a range of 644 km, a ceiling of 5,672 m, and a top speed of 232 km/h, thanks to its integrated 321-liter fuel tank. The Bell 505 helicopter can operate reliably for up to 3,000 flight hours before requiring an overhaul.
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| The Bell 505 Jet Range X is considered one of the most advanced light multi-purpose helicopters currently available. |
The Bell 505 has an empty weight of 1,002 tons and a maximum payload of 667 kg (carrying cargo or people inside). The Bell 505 helicopter is operated by a crew of two and can carry up to four passengers.
A key feature of the Bell 505 is its Garmin G1000H instrumentation system, which provides pilots with enhanced situational awareness. This system includes two high-resolution, multi-functional 10.4" LCD screens displaying various parameters, ensuring a high level of safety.
The Bell 505 Jet Range X helicopter is reportedly priced at around $1.07 million. Thanks to its low purchase cost, fuel efficiency, high safety standards, and exceptional stability, this helicopter is considered ideal for civilian service missions such as search and rescue and tourism leasing, compared to the EC-155B1 or Mi series.
