Photograph:
Bell 407 VH-MND (c/n 53581) at Albion Park, NSW in February 2011 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
General-purpose utility helicopter
Power Plant:
One 606 kw (813 shp) Rolls-Royce – Allison 250-C47B turboshaft
Specifications:
- Rotor diameter: 10.67 m (35 ft)
- Overall length rotor turning: 12.77 m (41 ft 8 in)
- Height: 3.56 m (11 ft 8 in)
- Main rotor disc area: 89.4 m² (962.1 sq ft)
- Max cruising speed at 1,219 m (4,000 ft): 243 km/h (151 mph)
- Max cruising speed at sea level: 237 km/h (147 mph)
- Economical cruising speed at 1,219 m (4,000 ft): 213 km/h (132 mph)
- Hovering ceiling in ground effect: 3,719 m (12,200 ft)
- Service ceiling: 5,697 m (18,690 ft)
- Max range: 665 km (413 miles)
- Empty weight: 1,178 kg (2,598 lb)
- Loaded weight: 2,268 kg (5,000 lb)
History:
The Bell Model 407 was a significantly improved development of the Bell 206L-4 LongRanger, with better range, payload, cruising speed and hovering ceiling. Seating seven, the Model 407 utilised the four-blade main rotor system and transmission which was developed and proven on the military OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, a military derivative of the Bell 206. Power plant was the Rolls-Royce – Allison 250-C47B with a full-authority digital engine control system. The rotor-system was hingeless, relying on a flexible glassfibre yoke for flapping, and elastomeric dampers and bearings for lead-lag and pitch change. The tail-rotor was a two-blade Kevlar/Nomex unit.
The Model 407 had a permitted external loaded weight of 2,500 kg (5,511 lb), and the aft baggage compartment was 0.56 m³ (19.8 cub ft) allowing 115 kg (253.5 lb) to be carried. At one stage it was planned to offer a twin-engine model but this was shelved in favour of a new machine known as the Model 427, this machine being powered by the Pratt & Whitney PW206D engine.
Development work on the new Model 407 series began in 1993 and the prototype, known as a concept demonstrator, first flew on 21 April 1994. The new model was announced at the January 1995 Heli-Expo in Las Vegas. The first pre-production machine flew in June 1995 and the first production machine in November that year. More than 200 examples had been delivered by late 1997 and production continued at a rate of ten aircraft per month.
First of the type registered in Australia became VH-YZZ (c/n 53002) in April 1999 to Buzz Aviation of Cronulla, NSW. Others were registered in New Zealand and New Guinea. Development led to the Model 407GX, the first example of which was sold in December 2013 by Hawker Pacific to a Sydney operator, the aircraft entering service on corporate and VIP duties. VH-MND (c/n 53581 – ex N28LL, N7082W) was eventually exported to Helipro in Fiji as DQ-KOK.
A few examples have been converted to increase their performance in hot-and-high conditions by Eagle Copters of Coffs Harbour, NSW, this variant being known as the Eagle 407HP, and an example became P2-HNE (c/n 53494) in New Guinea.