Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

Bell has received certification for the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X light turbine single from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. More than 110 Jet Ranger X helicopters have been ordered by Chinese customers to date.

 


In November, Bell signed an agreement with Reignwood International Investment Group for the purchase of an additional 50 Bell 505 Jet Ranger X light singles over three years and to act as the exclusive reseller for the 505 in China and establish a 505 delivery and maintenance center. That contract follows previous purchase agreements signed earlier in 2017 with Reignwood for 60 Bell 505s, bringing the company’s total order to 110. Other Chinese announced customers for the 505 include Tongcheng General Aviation, Aerochine, and China Star Aero Investment.

 


Worldwide, Bell holds more than 400 letters of intent for the 505 and the aircraft has received certification approvals from more than 20 countries worldwide. According to a report released earlier this year from the Asian Sky Group, Asia continues to be the world’s fastest growing helicopter market, with mainland China adding 86 civil turbine helicopters last year, an increase of 17.4 percent from 2016.

 


The light single continues an ongoing demo tour throughout Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America. Bell's new model maintains the familiarity of the B206-series JetRanger while integrating features including a dual-channel Fadec, Garmin G1000H flight deck, and a max range of 306 nm. The 505 is powered by the Safran Helicopter Engines Arrius 2R and is priced at approximately $1 million. According to Bell, the helicopter is suitable for corporate, utility, training, and parapublic missions.

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