Bell Model 407

Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)

United States | 1996

"The Bell Model 407 was born from the Bell 206 family line and has itself evolved into more potent military forms."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/21/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Image from the United States Department of Defense DVIDS imagery database.

The Bell Model 407 is a four-bladed main rotor version of the successful Bell Model 206 (Model 206L-4) and saw its first-flight recorded on June 29th, 1995. Service introduction occurred in 1996 and the type continues in service today (2017) across various environments, both military and civilian. Military operators of the Model 407 include El Salvador (Air Force), Iraq (Air Force), Jamaica (Army) and the United Arab Emirates (Air Force). Civilian, governmental and special industry market operators also exist. First deliveries of the Model 407 were in February 1996 and the design went on to spawn the Bell Model 427 (since replaced by the Model 429) and Northrop Grumman MQ-8C "Fire Scout" UAV (under development, detailed elsewhere on this site).

Work on a new light utility helicopter by Bell commenced in the early 1990s as the company sought a successor to its long-running, and well-liked, Model 206 series (originally developed to a U.S. Army specification). With a Model 206 modified to serve as the technology demonstrator, the Model 407 was born and two prototypes were used in the trials process which incorporated the composite four-bladed main rotor assembly featured on the OH-58D "Kiowa" military helicopter. The Allison 250-C47 was selected to power the new design.

Serial production began in 1995 and around 1,100 units have been built to date (2017) at a cost of about $2.5 million per unit.

The Bell Model 407 requires a single pilot for basic operation. A typical seating arrangement allows for seven total persons to be carried aloft. The aircraft can also carry external underslung loads up to 2,645lb. Dimensions include a length of 41.7 feet, a rotor diameter of 35 feet and a height of 11.7 feet. Empty weight is 2,670lb with an MTOW of 6,000lb listed.

Power is from a single Allison 250-C47B turboshaft engine developing 813 horsepower while driving a four-bladed main rotor assembly overhead and a two-bladed tail rotor assembly aft. Performance includes a maximum speed of 140 knots, a cruise speed of 133 knots and a range out to 324 nautical miles. Its service ceiling reaches 18,700 feet.

Externally, the Model 407 carries the smooth, clean lines of the Model 206 before it. The cockpit sports large windows for excellent vision by the pilot(s). The engine sits over the passenger cabin section which features side-mounted hinged access doors. The tail unit (of composite construction) is elevated to help the tail rotor clear the ground. Small vertical fins are set on short horizontal planes at the tail section's midway point. At the extreme end of the tail is a vertical dorsal and ventral fin. The tail rotor is mounted to face the portside of the aircraft. The Model 407 makes use of a simple four-point landing skid arrangement.

Variants in Model 407 line include the Model 417, the Model 407 LOH, the Eagle Model 407 HP, the Model 407AH, the Model 407GX, the Model 407GT and the Model 407GXP. The Model 417 was the civilian version of the planned ARH-70 (detailed below) while the Model 407 LOH ("Light Observation Helicopter") was a militarized reconnaissance version. The Eagle 407 HP was developed for Eagle Copter of Canada and fitted the Honeywell HTS900 series engine of 1,021 horsepower output. The Model 407AH became a specialized armed model for government-level forces. The Model 407GX was given an all-digital cockpit featuring a new avionics set. The Model 407GT was the armed variant of the GX. The Model 407 GXP became an improved-performance version of the Model 407GX with an improved control scheme.

The ARH-70 "Arapahoe", a new lightweight, armed military helicopter developed for the United States Army during the 2000s, was based in the Model 407. However, the project was later cancelled in October of 2008. This helicopter is detailed elsewhere on this site.

The Bell Model 407 also makes up the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C "Fire Scout" rotary-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). This aircraft is being tested by the United States Navy for use as an unmanned cargo resupply system for at-sea vessels. This helicopter is also detailed elsewhere on this site.

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March 2018 - Bell Helicopters has taken the veil off of its new Model 407GXi product set to feature the Garmin G1000H NHi avionics fit. It is powered by the Rolls-Royce M250-C47E/4 turboshaft series engine for improved fuel efficiency.

August 2019 - The Bell 407GXi is in the running to meet the United State Navy's "Advanced Helicopter Training System" (AHTS) requirement seeking to replace the aging TH-57 "Sea Ranger" fleet.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Bell Model 407 Light Utility Helicopter (LUH).

1 x Allison 250-C47B turboshaft engine developing 813 horsepower and driving four-blade main rotor and two-blade tail rotor.
Propulsion

162 mph
260 kph | 140 kts
Max Speed

18,701 ft
5,700 m | 4 miles
Service Ceiling

373 miles
600 km | 324 nm
Operational Range

City-to-City Ranges
Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Bell Model 407 Light Utility Helicopter (LUH).

1
(MANNED)
Crew

41.7 ft
12.70 m
O/A Length

35.0 ft
(10.67 m)
O/A Width

11.6 ft
(3.55 m)
O/A Height

2,668 lb
(1,210 kg)
Empty Weight

6,008 lb
(2,725 kg)
MTOW

Design Balance
The three qualities reflected below are altitude, speed, and range. The more full the box, the more balanced the design.

RANGE

ALT

SPEED

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Bell Model 407 Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) .

Civilian models unarmed. Some security and governmental models can carry limited armament as needed.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Bell Model 407 family line.

Bell 407 - Base Series Designation based on the Bell Model 206L-4 offering.

ARH-70 - Proposed U.S. Army model to serve in the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter role; cancelled.

Model 417 - Proposed civilian market form of the ARH-70; also cancelled.

Model 407 LOH - Light Observation Helicopter form for the U.S. Army.

Eagle 407 HP - Fitted with Honeywell HTS9000 engine of 1,021 horsepower.

MQ-8C "Fire Scout" - UAV project model developed by Northrop Grumman.

Model 407AH - Governmental / security model supporting armament.

Model 407GX - Improved avionics and controlling; Garmin G1000H cockpit.

Model 407GXi - Model of 2018; Garmin G1000H NHi avionics with Rolls-Royce M250-C47E/4 turboshaft engine.

Model 407GT - Armed variant based in the Model 407GX product.

Model 407GXP - Enhanced performance variant with changes of the Model 407GX.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Bell Model 407. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 1,400 Units
Contractor(s): Bell Helicopter Textron - USA

National flag of the United Arab Emirates

[ El Salvador; Iraq; Jamaica; United Arab Emirates; United States ]

Relative Max Speed

Hi: 200mph

Lo: 100mph

Aircraft Max Listed Speed (162mph).

Graph Average of 150 MPH.

Era Crossover

Showcasing Aircraft Era Crossover (if any)

Max Alt Visualization

Production Comparison

1400

36183

44000

Entry compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian) total production.

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

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Aviation Timeline

EarlyYrs

WWI

Interwar

WWII

ColdWar

Postwar

Modern

Future

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Mission Roles
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to airborne requirements.

MEDEVAC

RECONNAISSANCE

Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Going Further...
The Bell Model 407 Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) appears in the following collections:

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