Bell’s Model 505 Jet Ranger X is making its Brazilian debut here at the LABACE show, at least in full-scale mock-up form. The company expects to fly the light single helicopter by the end of the year, and hopes that it can repeat the success of the original JetRanger that became a true “classic” of the rotary-wing world. The 505 is intended for a wide range of tasks, such as training, law enforcement, corporate/VIP transport and utility work, for which a 1,500-pound cargo hook is fitted. With extensive glazing offering excellent visibility, the 505 has a state-of-the-art glass cockpit with Garmin G1000H integrated avionics suite. Power is provided by a Turbomeca Arrius 2R engine with dual-channel Fadec control. The 505’s high-inertia rotor system is intended to provide excellent auto-rotation characteristics, improving safety and combining with good handling to make it an ideal trainer.

Also on show this week in São Paulo are Bell’s 407GX and 429WLG helicopters.