FLIGHT EVALUATION FE Bell 505 Jet Ranger X Back in the Game The 505 Jet Ranger X marks Bell’s return to the short light single- engine market following the end of production of the phenomenally successful 206 series. In early March, we had the opportunity to find out how well the aircraft stands up to its proud legacy. by Guy R. Maher Boy, how time flies. It seems like just yesterday that Bell Helicopter announced it was discontinuing production of the ubiquitous 206B JetRanger — but that was eight years ago. By late 2010, the last 206B-3 rolled off of the line, ending a run of more than 50 years that saw over 8,000 aircraft delivered in numerous variations. At the time, Robinson was engaged in certification flight testing of its new R66 Turbine, and during press conferences and personal conversations, Bell representatives seemed resigned to the fact that Robinson would cover that segment of the light single-engine mar- ket. But less than three years after that last 206B left the factory, Bell announced it would be returning to the short light single engine helicopter market with a reimagined version of the 206B — the 505 Jet Ranger X. With Canadian certification now in hand, and Federal Aviation Administration certification expected by the time you are reading this, Bell offered Vertical the opportunity to evaluate its latest product offering. By calling it the 505 Jet Ranger X, the manufacturer appears to be both embracing the aircraft’s legacy while giving a sense of its evolu- tion. The influence of the 206L-4 is keenly felt, from the top of the rotor system, down through the transmission, to the drive train and the tail rotor. Not only was this a smart move to keep design costs low, but it also means the 505 retains the legendary Bell two-bladed autorotational characteristics. Approaching the 505, the rotor system may look familiar, but that’s pretty much where the visible similarities to the 206 stop. This is especially true when examining the new cabin. The cabin frame (built 68 Ver tical Maga zine