Bell Model 429 GlobalRanger

Twin-Engine Mutirole / Light Utility Helicopter [ 2009 ]

The Bell Model 429 helicopter has found a home in several civilian and military market inventories of the world.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/19/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image from official Bell Helicopter marketing material.

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The Bell Helicopter Model 429 is the direct successor to the short-lived Bell Model 427, another in a long line of attempts by the company to produce a twin-engine offering of its successful Model 206/407 products. The Model 429 is known as the "GlobalRanger" and can fulfill various light utility roles. A first-flight of a prototype aircraft was had on February 27th, 2007 and service entry occurred in 2009. The GlobalRanger is currently (2017) in service with Australia, Canada, Kuwait, Oman, Puerto Rico, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States in military and civilian market roles.

The Model 429 was originally born as an offshoot of the short-lived Model 427 and became a stretched-fuselage version intended to overcome some of the Model 427's inherent limitations. However, this approach was abandoned in favor of an all-new design involving a more modular approach being developed by the company. The gearbox and engine systems of the Model 427 were carried over as was its general design form but the newer Model 429 was essentially an all-new aircraft. This led to a first-flight in 2007 and testing continued into 2008. In 2009 the series was granted certification, paving the way for serial production efforts. The launch customer became Air Methods Corporation (U.S.).

The Model 429 seats one pilot and can hold a crew of two in a side-by-side cockpit arrangement (the cockpit sporting an digitally-driven "glass" design approach). Up to six passengers can be carried in the cabin aft. Dimensions include a length of 41.7 feet, a width (including the rotor diameter) of 36 feet and a height of 13.2 feet. Empty weight is 4,245lb against a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 7,000lb. The undercarriage is a simple four-point skid unit with a retractable wheeled undercarriage being offered as an option. MEDical EVACuation (MEDEVAC) versions have an optional rear cargo ramp/door (clamshell-type) and can carry medical litters and limited support staff. Internally, the cockpit sports 3 x large Multi-Function Displays (MFDs), as part of the BasiX-Pro Integrated Avionics System, and various other modern systems and subsystems. Both cockpit positions feature cyclic and collective control sticks as well as foot pedals.

Power is from 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207D1 turboshaft engines developing 625 horsepower each and driving a four-bladed (composite) main rotor over the fuselage and a four-bladed (2 x two-bladed units in an X-form pattern) tail rotor (offset to portside) at the extreme aft-end of the empennage. Performance specs include a maximum speed of 180 miles per hour, a cruise speed of 172.5 mph and a range out to 450 miles. The listed service ceiling is 20,000 feet.

To date (2017), the Model 429 has already exceeded the market reach of the preceding Model 427 for various customers, perhaps well on its way to becoming a true Model 206/407 twin-engined successor.©MilitaryFactory.com

Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

June 2020 - Australia has selected the Bell Model 429 to serve in its special forces ranks. The standing requirement calls for a total of 20 helicopters.

Specifications

Bell Helicopter - USA
Manufacturer(s)

Australia; Canada; Kuwait; Oman; Puerto Rico; Slovakia; Sweden; Turkey; United Kingdom; United States
Operators

2009
Service Year

United States
National Origin

Active
Project Status

1
Crew

550
Units

TRANSPORT
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.

VIP SERVICE
Used in the Very-Important-Person (VIP) passenger transport role, typically with above-average amenities and luxuries as standard.

INTELLIGENCE-SURVEILLANCE-RECONNAISSANCE
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

41.7 ft
(12.70 meters)
Length

35.9 ft
(10.95 meters)
Width/Span

13.3 ft
(4.05 meters)
Height

4,244 lb
(1,925 kilograms)
Empty Weight

7,000 lb
(3,175 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight

+2,756 lb
(+1,250 kg)
Weight Difference

2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207D1 turboshaft engines developing 625 horsepower each and driving a four-bladed main rotor and four-bladed tail rotor.
Propulsion

180 mph
(290 kph | 157 knots)
Max Speed

20,013 ft
(6,100 m | 4 miles)
Ceiling

450 miles
(725 km | 391 nm)
Range

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

None.

Model 429 - Base Series Designation.

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Images

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Image of the Bell Model 429 GlobalRanger

Image from official Bell Helicopter marketing material.

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Image from official Bell Helicopter marketing material.

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Image from official Bell Helicopter marketing material.

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Image from official Bell Helicopter marketing material.

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