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By
Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_430
The Bell 430 is a twin-engined light-medium helicopter built by Bell Helicopter Textron. It is a stretched and more powerful development of the Bell 230, which was itself based on the earlier Bell 222.
Development
While developing the reengined Model 222 as the 230, Bell began preliminary design work on a stretched derivative with a four-bladed main rotor in 1991. The Bell 430 was formally launched in February 1992, with two prototypes being modified from Bell 230s. The first of these flew in its new configuration on October 25, 1994, and the second prototype, featuring the full 430 avionics suite, first flew on December 19, 1994.
Production of the Bell 230 wound up in August 1995, with the first 430 production aircraft being completed that year. Canadian certification was awarded on February 23, 1996, and the first deliveries began in the middle of that year.
Between August 17 and September 3, 1996, Americans Ron Bower and John Williams broke the round the world helicopter record with a Bell 430, flying westwards from England.
On 24 January 2008, Bell announced plans to terminate production of its Model 430 after current order commitments are fulfilled in 2010.
Design
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Cockpit of a Bell 430. |
The Bell 430 features several significant improvements over the 230, the most significant of these being the new four blade, bearingless, hingeless, composite main rotor. Though both the 230 and 430 are powered by Rolls-Royce (Allison) 250 turboshafts, the 430's engines are 10% more powerful. Other changes include the 1ft 6in(46cm) stretched fuselage, providing for two extra seats, an optional EFIS flightdeck, and a choice of either skids or retractable wheeled undercarriage.
The typical configuration seats 10, including a pilot and co-pilot with eight passengers in main cabin behind them in three rows of seats. Six and eight place executive layouts offered. In EMS role can carry one or two stretcher patients with four or three medical attendants respectively. Max hook capacity is 3,500 lb (1,585 kg).
Operators
 Dominican Republic
 United States
Specifications
Bell 230 vs Bell 430[4][5][6][7]
| Model |
230 |
430 |
| Announced |
1990 |
1991 |
| First Flight |
1991-08-12 |
1994-10-25 |
| Certified |
1992-03 |
1996-02-23 |
| Delivered |
1992-11 |
1996 |
| Seats |
2 (pilot & copilot) + 5–6 passengers |
2 + 6–8 |
| Height |
11 ft 8 in (3.56 m) |
12 ft 3 in (3.73 m) |
| Fuselage length |
42 ft 3 in (12.88 m) |
44 ft 1 in (13.44 m) |
| Rotor diameter |
42 ft (12.80 m) |
| Length overall |
50 ft 3 in (15.32 m) |
| Engine (2x) |
Allison 250C30G2 |
Rolls-Royce 250-C40B |
| Power (2x) |
700 hp (520 kW) |
783 hp (584 kW) |
| Max speed |
140 kts (161 mph, 260 km/h) |
140 kts (161 mph, 260 km/h) |
| Climb rate |
~1,600 ft/min (8.13 m/s) |
n/a |
| Service ceiling |
15,500 ft (4,724 m) |
14,600 ft (4,450 m) |
| Hover ceiling |
12,400 ft (3,780 m) |
11,350 ft (3,459 m) |
| Fuel Capacity |
188+ US gal (710+ L) |
188+ US gal (710+ L) |
| Range |
378 nmi (434 mi, 700 km) |
324 nmi (372 mi, 600 km) |
| Max Take-off Weight |
5,097 lb (2,312 kg) |
5,304 lb (2,406 kg) |
| Maximum Lift |
8,400 lb (3,810 kg) |
9,299 lb (4,218 kg) |
| Serial Numbers |
23001 – 23038 |
49001 – 49123+ |
See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
External links
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Published in July 2009.
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