Commercial Helicopters Now Produced at Bell
By: Jackie Kingston
Updated: September 27, 2012
AMARILLO -- The community got a first look at Bell Helicopter's newest creation, today.
The 525 Relentless is different than the helicopter's Bell usually rolls out, it's for commercial use, instead of for the military.
It's also the world's first super medium helicopter--that means it weighs between 10 to 20 thousand pounds.
Chief Engineer, David King, says its technology is very similar to the Osprey, "it's based around a 'fly by wire' flight control system, uh, similar technology to the v-22 osprey. So, we've taken that system and that technology and went to our customers and said 'how can this add value for your mission today, your mission five years from now, ten years from now'."
With recent military budget cuts, Bell officials say they're dedicating more of their resources to commercial aircraft.
Building those new helicopters should also add about one hundred new jobs at the bell plant.
The 525 Relentless is different than the helicopter's Bell usually rolls out, it's for commercial use, instead of for the military.
It's also the world's first super medium helicopter--that means it weighs between 10 to 20 thousand pounds.
Chief Engineer, David King, says its technology is very similar to the Osprey, "it's based around a 'fly by wire' flight control system, uh, similar technology to the v-22 osprey. So, we've taken that system and that technology and went to our customers and said 'how can this add value for your mission today, your mission five years from now, ten years from now'."
With recent military budget cuts, Bell officials say they're dedicating more of their resources to commercial aircraft.
Building those new helicopters should also add about one hundred new jobs at the bell plant.
