Country of origin:

Canada

Description:

Utility helicopter

Power Plant:

One 762 kw (1,021 shp) Honeywell HTS-900-D2 turboshaft

Specifications:

History:

The Eagle Copters 407HP was a development of the Bell 407 series of helicopters aimed at a market for a variant of the 407 with more power. Initially the Bell 212 was converted to Honeywell power to increase performance in hot-and-high conditions. Bell and Honeywell commenced the engine conversion process in the 1990s but, due to company economics, it was found not to be viable as a commercial venture.

However, Eagle Copters Ltd, based in Calgary in Alberta, Canada, began work on the conversion program for the Model 407HP with the approval and assistance of Bell Helicopters and Honeywell and the outcome of this relationship produced an aircraft with a 22 per cent average power increase. The Company stated the benefit in simple terms was the maximum allowed horsepower input to the Model 407 transmission could be maintained to a lot higher altitude and / or temperature than the original engine, thus increasing the machine’s performance characteristics in hot-and-high operating environments as well as increasing payload, mission capability and safety, together with, it was claimed, a reduction in fuel consumption. The new engine provided a 19 per cent increase in gross weight at 3,048 m (10,000 ft) and a 40 per cent increase in payload at 3,658 m (12,000 ft).

American FAA and Canadian Transport certification were obtained and initial conversions were carried out at the Eagle Copters facility in Calgary, followed shortly thereafter by Eagle Copters Australasia at its facility in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Design and engineering was licensed from Bell Helicopters and Honeywell, the latter company providing the Honeywell HTS900 engine and Eagle Copters providing the aircraft, performing the engine installation and handling flight testing and certification, the partnership receiving a Supplemental Type Certificate covering the program, this being issued on 18 December 2014 from the FAA.

Eagle Copters Australasia based at Coffs Harbour Airport was a privately owned Company offering helicopter leasing, sales and support services and was a new entrant into the helicopter market in this part of the world with the Bell 407 conversion.

First aircraft of the type in this region was VH-EPU³ (c/n 53494 – ex C-FLCI, N409AL, N918WV) registered in Australia on 20 April 2016, which commenced operations in Papua New Guinea in mid 2016, replacing a standard Model 407, this conversion being carried out in Canada. This machine was transferred to the New Guinea Civil Aircraft Register on 14 February 2017, becoming P2-HNE.

First conversion at Coffs Harbour was completed in early 2017 and this machine was also flown to New Guinea to enter service. A second conversion at Coffs Harbour was completed in early 2018 and appeared with Air Bali titling, commencing work with Heli SGI in the mountains of Indonesia and Papua as PK-ZGC (c/n 53348 – ex N667AL, RP-C1788).