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2014 INVESTOR FACT BOOK
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Bell Helicopter
31%
Bell Helicopter’s share of Textron 2014 revenues
Bell Helicopter is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell Helicopter’s global workforce serves customers flying Bell Helicopter aircraft in more than 120 countries.
Bell Helicopter – Product Overview
A quick look at the commercial and military products we currently offer our customersBell Helicopter – Product Overview
Bell 525 Relentless Super-Medium Helicopter
The Bell 525 Relentless defines the new "super medium" product class — positioned at the upper end of the medium class and designed to offer best-in-class capabilities to our customers. It features superior payload and range, cabin and cargo volumes and crew visibility. Capable of carrying up to 16 passengers, the Bell 525 Relentless is designed to support our customers in various mission configurations including oil & gas, search & rescue, helicopter emergency medical services and VIP/corporate transport.Bell 525 Relentless Super-Medium Helicopter
Bell V-280 Valor — Future of Vertical Lift Takes Flight
Our Future of Vertical Lift Takes FlightBell V-280 Valor — Future of Vertical Lift Takes Flight
The V-22 Osprey: One Aircraft — Multiple Missions
At over 200,000 flight hours, the V-22 continues to perform a multitude of missions around the world. Desired for its responsiveness and operational flexibility, the multi-mission V-22 is capable of reshapes the modern-day battlefield and provides timely aid to remote areas that would otherwise be unreachable.Bell Boeing V-22
Fast Facts
- At the end of 2014, Bell Helicopter had approximately 8,700 employees, of which 22% were located outside the U.S.
- Major facilities are located in Fort Worth, Texas; Amarillo, Texas; Ozark, Alabama; Piney Flats, Tennessee; Lafayette, Louisiana; and Mirabel, Quebec, Canada.
- Approximately 13,000 Bell Helicopter manufactured and licensed aircraft are flying in more than 120 countries.
- Greater than 29% of all helicopters in operation today carry the Bell brand, including both military and commercial applications.
- Worldwide service network of more than 100 Bell Helicopter authorized Customer Service Facilities and eight Bell Helicopter operated service centers, two of which are co-located with Textron Aviation: one in Singapore and one in the Czech Republic.
- Received #1 ranking in two of the aviation industry’s most prominent customer surveys: Aviation International News’ (AIN) 2014 Product Support Survey for the ninth consecutive year and Professional Pilot’s Helicopter Product Support Survey for the 20th consecutive year.
Strategic steps forward
- Unrelenting focus on meeting the mission needs of commercial customers and improving global competitive position.
- Strengthen the commercial product line by upgrading existing products, developing derivatives and introducing new models, including the 525 Relentless™ and 505 Jet Ranger X™.
- Develop Bell Helicopter’s global business through increased local presence with a stronger sales and marketing team.
- Continue production of the V-22 for the U.S. Marine Corps and Air Force Special Operations Forces, and market to other U.S. Department of Defense and international customers.
- Continue production of the UH-1Y utility helicopter and AH-1Z attack helicopter, and pursue international opportunities.
- Maintain investment in the upgrade and development of military-focused products including the development of the next-generation tiltrotor technology for future product offerings.
- Continue to grow Bell Helicopter’s integrated support and services business through geographic and service offering expansion.
- Strengthen cost competitiveness through continued improvement in worldwide manufacturing productivity and modernizing business systems.
Major Products
| Description | First Delivery | Seating Capacity (including pilots) |
Useful Load (lbs) |
Cruising Speed (kts) |
Maximum Range (nm) | |
| Light | ||||||
| 505 Jet Ranger X | Light single-engine, five-seat entry-level helicopter | TBD | 5 | +1,500 | +125 | +360 |
| 206L-4 Long Ranger | Light single-engine, extended cabin version of the Jet Ranger | 1992 | 7 | 2,123 | 112 | 324 |
| 407 | Light single-engine, high-performance multi-mission helicopter | 1996 | 7 | 2,332 | 133 | 330 |
| 407GX/GT | Light single-engine helicopter with a fully integrated glass cockpit and a commercially qualified armed variant | 2011 | 7 | 2,262 | 133 | 330 |
| 429/429WLG | Light twin-engine helicopter, best-in-class cabin volume | 2009 | 8 | 3,200 | 142 | 350 |
| Medium | ||||||
| 412 EP/EPI | Twin-engine with the highest dispatch reliability and the lowest hourly cost | 1981 | 15 | 4,965 | 122 | 356 |
| 525 Relentless | Twin-engine with ARC Horizon flight deck system | TBD | 18 | +7,400 | +155 | +500 |
| Military | ||||||
| OH-58D Kiowa Warrior | Armed reconnaissance helicopter for U.S. Army | 1986 | 2 | 2,200 | 114 | 268 |
| TH-67 Trainer | Military training helicopter | 1993 | 3 | 1,321 | 115 | 374 |
| Huey II | Upgrade of U.S. Army and worldwide UH-1H model Huey | 1995 | 15 | 5,060 | 106 | 216 |
| UH-1Y | State-of-the-art fully integrated utility and combat support helicopter | 2006 | 12 | 6,661 | 158 | 350 |
| AH-1Z | State-of-the-art fully integrated weapons system attack helicopter | 2006 | 2 | 6,300 | 160 | 380 |
| Tiltrotor | ||||||
| Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey | Military tiltrotor aircraft, being produced in partnership with Boeing | 1999 | 27 | 25,500 | 272 | 1,100 |
| Bell V-280 Valor | Third-generation military tiltrotor, being developed for the Army's Joint Multi-Role (JMR) Technology Demonstrator (TD) Program | TBD | TBD | TBD | 280 | 800 |
Commercial Business
- The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X™ completed its first flight on November 10, 2014, at Bell Helicopter’s Mirabel, Quebec, facility. More than 300 letters of intent to purchase this aircraft have been signed since its unveiling at Heli-Expo in February.
- The Bell 525 Relentless™ first flight test vehicle completed electrical power-up of the avionics and flight controls in 2014 as we progressed toward first flight, which is expected in 2015.
- Delivered the 200th Bell 429 to be produced and also celebrated a major milestone in Europe with the delivery of the 50th Bell 429 in that region.
- Introduced the Bell 407 polycarbonate windshield in April, a patent-pending windshield that deflects objects away from the cockpit and significantly decreases the likelihood of objects breaching the windshield upon impact.
Military Business
- The U.S. Army selected the V-280 Valor tiltrotor to advance in the Department of Defense Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator program to build and fly a demonstrator aircraft. This is part of a Science & Technology effort with the U.S. Government that precedes and informs the Future Vertical Lift program.
- The Bell Helicopter Final Assembly and Delivery Center in Amarillo, Texas delivered the twelfth and final MV-22 to the United States Marine Corps’ Helicopter Squadron One, the unit responsible for Presidential rotary transport. The squadron is now at full operating capability.
- The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey can now be equipped with forward-firing rockets and missiles, which were successfully demonstrated at the United States Army Proving Ground in Yuma, AZ.
- In 2014, the V-22 fleet of tiltrotor aircraft passed the 250,000 flight hour milestone.
Bell 525 Relentless™
Bell Boeing MV-22
Commercial Product Price Points
Bell Helicopter CompetitionSource: Conklin & de Decker ACE, 2014, Vol II & estimated price escalations.