Bell Helicopter is displaying its previously announced 429WLG helicopter at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Las Vegas Oct. 22 through 24. It is billed as a helicopter designed entirely from the standpoint of customer requests.
The 429WLG features electrically operated landing gear with braking capability. It is promised to cruise at 152 knots true airspeed and have a 412-nautical-mile range.
The 429WLG has a glass cockpit with the capability to have two and even three multifunction displays, a dual digital three-axis autopilot, and an integrated electronic data recorder.
The cabin contains 204 square feet, and there are optional rear clam-shell doors. It is the first helicopter Bell has certified through a process called MSG-3, and what that means to the customer is reduced maintenance costs.
It is certified for single and dual pilot instrument operations with Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) capabilities. A flat floor allows the helicopter to be converted quickly from passengers to cargo. Seats are easily removed. Safety-of-flight features include a collective-mounted throttle. It carries one pilot plus seven passengers. Its useful load is 2,772 pounds.
Alton K. Marsh
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