Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, announced the signed agreement for the sale of 10 Bell 505 helicopters to the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) today at The Special Operations Forces Exhibition & Conference (SOFEX) in Aqaba, Jordan. The contract includes the delivery of the aircraft with a flight training device and a comprehensive computer-based training package to enable an enhanced approach to basic and advanced rotorcraft flight training at the King Hussein Air College in Mafraq, Jordan. SOFEX is the world’s leading special operations forces and homeland security exhibition. Currently in its 13th year, the show was established by His Majesty King Abdullah II to provide a platform to present and demonstrate new and innovative equipment and technologies in security operations.
“We look forward to adding the Bell 505 aircraft to our fleet and providing our pilots with one of the best possible aircraft for their training. The addition of 10 new aircraft will enable us to further expand our operations in the country,” said Brig. Gen. Mohammad F. Hiyasat, Commander, Royal Jordanian Air Force.
“It is with profound gratitude to the Royal Jordanian Air Force that we share news of this agreement to purchase the Bell 505s as the new helicopter trainer for the Air Force,” said Patrick Moulay, senior vice president, International Commercial Sales, Bell.
“We are dedicated to the Armed Forces, the Air Force, and the citizens of Jordan and offer our commitment to ensure the best of service. The Bell 505 will serve alongside the men and women of the Air Force by playing a critical role in ensuring the operational readiness of its cadets,” Sameer Rehman, managing director, Africa and Middle East, Bell.
The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X (JRX) is an American/Canadian light helicopter developed and manufactured by Bell Helicopter. The Bell 505 was unveiled at the 2013 Paris Airshow in June 2013 as the Bell SLS (Short Light Single). The Bell 505 designation was officially announced in February 2014. Its first flight occurred on November 11, 2014. In August 2015, Bell had 350 letters of intent. Certification by Transport Canada[19] was awarded on December 21, 2016. The first customer aircraft was delivered on March 7, 2017 to a private operator in Arizona, United States. The 505 was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration in June 2017 and received high altitude certification (22,500 feet density altitude) in June 2019. Bell delivered the 100th 505 Jet Ranger X in June 2018, and the 200th in August 2019.The company recently celebrated the 400th Bell 505 delivery since its launch in 2017.
The Bell 505 is a popular aircraft for commercial and military customers alike, offering phenomenal power, optimal visibility and high-tech Garmin avionics. The Bell 505 is a “clean sheet” design, but uses some dynamic components, such as the rotor system, of the Bell 206L-4. The airframe is constructed of metal and composites, and has a 22-square-foot (2.04 m²) flat floor and an 18-cubic-foot (0.51 m³) luggage bay. The Safran Arrius 2R is used with a dual-channel FADEC and a 3,000-hour Time-between-overhaul. The 505 cockpit is equipped with the Garmin G1000H glass avionics suite. Various options such as a cargo hook are available. As the most advanced helicopter in its class on the market, details have been considered in the design of the Bell 505, starting with the fully digitally controlled engine, and advanced avionics that dramatically reduce pilot workload and maximize safety in a multitude of operational scenarios.
