Dallas, TX - February 27, 2006 - In a dramatic unveiling at Heli-Expo yesterday, Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company introduced their new Bell 417. In a ceremony before a large crowd, Bell Helicopter Chief Executive Officer Mike Redenbaugh revealed a mock-up of the new Bell 417 in law enforcement configuration.

"The Bell 417 is our answer to the customers’ demand for a powerful single engine, helicopter with unmatched hot and high hover capability," explained Redenbaugh. "We have used the voice of the customer to drive many of the decisions we have made on the Bell 417 from concept definition to development."

The Bell 417 will maintain the legacy and reliability of the 407 and improve on it with even more power, more payload and improved hot and high performance. The Bell 417 will include a modern, Chelton "glass cockpit" and the new Honeywell HTS900 turbine engine delivering more than 970 SHP.

According to Bell Helicopter 417 Executive Director John Ricciardelli, the Bell 417 is right on track to deliver to the customer in 2008.

"We will be flying the Bell 417 prototype in April of this year and hope to complete certification in early 2008," Ricciardelli said.

In addition to incorporating the voice of the customer, the Bell 417 also brought in Bell Helicopter’s world-class customer support organization to ensure the design and development concentrated on the long-term life cycle and maintainability of the aircraft.

The Bell 417 is expected to include the following basic aircraft equipment:

• Spacious cabin with club seating for 5
• Cockpit can accommodate 95th percentile male wearing helmets with NVG equipment stowed
• Improved "bubble cockpit" provides greater head room
• Integrated Chelton avionics package
• ual VHF-COM, GPS/WAAS, AD/AHRS, transponder, and S audio panel
• New FADEC system equipped with dual electronic control units (ECU) offering dual channel safety and reliability

Bell Helicopter is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell’s global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.

Source: Bell Helicopter
Picture provided and copyrighted by Ed Garza - Bell Helicopter
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