Bell 505 Jet Ranger X

Summary

Category	Helicopter
Origin country	🇺🇸 United States
First flight	11 November 2014
Year of introduction	2017
Number produced	360 units
Average unit price	$1.2 million

Description

The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X originated as the Bell SLS (Short Light Single), unveiled at the 2013 Paris Airshow. The official Bell 505 designation was announced in February 2014. Although developed as a "clean sheet" design, it incorporates certain dynamic components, such as the rotor system, from the Bell 206L-4.

Constructed with a mix of metal and composite materials, the airframe features a 22-square-foot (2.04 m2) flat floor and an 18-cubic-foot (0.51 m3) luggage bay. The aircraft is powered by the Safran Arrius 2R engine, which includes a dual-channel FADEC and has a Time-Between-Overhaul rated at 3,000 hours. The cockpit is equipped with the Garmin G1000H glass avionics suite.

First flight achieved a speed of 60 knots on November 11, 2014. Transport Canada certified the helicopter in December 2016, followed by US certification in June 2017.

The design allows for integration of various optional equipment, including a cargo hook for external load operations. The maximum takeoff weight is 3,680 lb (1,669 kg) for internal loads and 4,475 lb (2,030 kg) for external loads. The useful load of the helicopter is 1,500 lb (680 kg).

The Bell 505 is utilized across various operational roles, including military training, public safety, and law enforcement. By 2023, several countries had adopted it for military pilot training, including South Korea, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, the UAE, Montenegro, and Jordan. The Jamaica Defence Force, for example, placed an order for six aircraft for public safety operations in February 2021. Law enforcement agencies such as the Sacramento Police Department operate specially equipped versions featuring enhancements such as an Electro-Optic/Infrared sensor, searchlight, loudhailer, external hardpoints, and higher skid gear. Other operator nations include Angola, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Ethiopia, Iraq, Nepal, New Zealand, Uganda, Singapore, Switzerland, the United States, and Vietnam.

Main Variants:

Bell SLS (Short Light Single): The initial designation of the Bell 505, unveiled at the 2013 Paris Airshow.
Law Enforcement variant: Configured for police operations, this version includes an Electro-Optic/Infrared sensor, searchlight, loudhailer, external hardpoints, and a higher skid gear.
Military training helicopter: A version used by several countries for military pilot training.

Technical specifications

Version: 505
Operational range	566 km (352 mi)
Height	3.3 m (10.7 ft)
Length	13.0 m (42.5 ft)
Service ceiling	5670 m (18602 ft)
Empty weight	1669 kg (3680 lbs)
Max. takeoff weight	2030 kg (4475 lbs)
Powerplant	1 × turbine Safran Arrius 2R delivering 377 kW