Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Bell Textron has made its first sale of a Model 505 helicopter in the Netherlands to Gerrit Verwijs, owner of Verdegro Group, a manufacturer of public safety infrastructure. Verdegro will use the Bell 505 for business trips in Europe, including showing customers its facilities near Breda in the Netherlands.
The Safran Arrius 2R-powered light helicopter features Garmin G1000H integrated avionics with synthetic vision and a five-seat cabin with wide panoramic windows. With a cruise speed of 125 knots and range of 306 nm, the 505 can hover in ground effect to 14,450 feet or out of ground effect at 10,460 feet.
“The Bell 505 will redefine our company travels across Europe,” Verwijs said. “We will be way more efficient in meeting multiple customers in a short time period. The helicopter allows us to take our customers to different project sites and easily present our footprint near Breda.”
More than 100 Bell 505s have been sold to customers in Europe. “Bell is proud to work alongside the Verdegro Group as they welcome their first Bell aircraft,” said Robin Wendling, Bell managing director of Europe. “With the expansion of the Bell 505 to the Netherlands, we are excited to enter a new era of supporting customers in the region with the multi-mission capabilities of this platform.”

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