Bell 407

Bell · United States · first flew 1995 · helicopter

The Bell 407 is a single-turbine light helicopter derived from the 206L LongRanger, fitted with a four-blade rotor adapted from the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, rotary
E — Engines	1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	Slim single-engine light fuselage on skids
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Four-blade soft-in-plane main rotor (vs two-blade 206 ancestor)
Slim single-engine light fuselage on skids
Widened cabin bulge compared with the LongRanger it derives from

Look for the four-blade main rotor turning above a sleek light single, skid landing gear and a two-blade tail rotor. The rounded, slightly bulged cabin distinguishes it from the narrower two-blade 206.

Specifications

The Bell 407 has a length of 9.77 m (32 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.67 m (35 ft).
Its maximum speed is 246 km/h (153 mph).
Typical crew: 1-2 pilots.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Bell developed the 407 in the early 1990s by mating the LongRanger's stretched cabin to the soft-in-plane four-blade composite rotor system created for the US Army Kiowa Warrior. It first flew in 1995 and quickly became one of the best-selling light turbine helicopters.

Variants

The original 407 gave way to the 407GX and current 407GXi, which adds a Garmin G1000H NXi glass cockpit and a FADEC-controlled Rolls-Royce 250-C47E engine. Special-mission and armed export versions have also been produced.

Where you'll see it

The type is a global workhorse for air ambulance (HEMS), police aviation, news-gathering and corporate transport. In the UK it appears in HEMS and police roles, valued for its speed, cabin space and single-engine economy.

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