BELL 407

Country of Origin: USA and Canada

Type: Civil utility helicopter

Powerplant: The Bell 407 Helicopter is supplied with power by rolls-Royce Model 250-C47B turboshaft engine. The Engine has a single stage centrifugal-flow compressor, a single combustion chamber, a two stage gas producer turbine and a two stage power turbine.

Weights: 407 – Empty 1200kg (2640lb), max takeoff 2,722 kg (6000lb).

Dimensions: Main rotor diameter 10.7m (35ft), fuselage length 10.6m (34ft 7in), height 3.1 m (10ft 2in).

Capacity: Total accommodation for seven, including one pilot and one passenger in the front, and two behind them on the rear facing seats in addition to the 3 forward facing seats.

History: In 1993, Bell began the development of the New Light Aircraft as a replacement for its Model 206 series. The program resulted in the 407, a development of Bell’s LongRanger. A 206L-3 LongRanger was modified to serve as the 407 demonstrator. The demonstrator used hardware for the 407 and added molded fairings to represent the 407′s wider fuselage then under development.

The demonstrator was first flown on April 21, 1994, and the 407 program was publicly announced at the Heli-Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, in January 1995.

The Bell 407 features the four-blade main rotor developed for the OH-58D (Model 406). The blades and hub use composite construction without life limits, and provide better performance and a more comfortable ride. The 407′s fuselage is 8 inches (18 cm) wider, increasing internal cabin space, and includes main cabin windows that are 35% larger.

The more powerful Rolls-Royce/Allison 250-C47 turboshaft allows an increase in Maximum Takeoff Weight and improves performance at hotter temperatures and/or higher altitudes.[2] The 407′s airframe is generally similar to the LongRanger, but includes a carbon fiber composite tailboom.