The second Bell 505 Jet Ranger X flight-test vehicle (FTV) achieved its first flight on Monday at Bell Helicopter’s Mirabel, Québec manufacturing facility, some three months after the first 505 FTV made its maiden flight there. “This puts us one step closer to certification and production,” said Bell 505 Jet Ranger X program director David Smith. “The aircraft performed incredibly well, successfully demonstrating a low-speed traffic pattern at 60 knots.”

Since flight testing began in November, the helicopter program has progressed quickly, with the aircraft performing additional tests and numerous practice autorotations, according to Bell. “We continue to make excellent progress with the flight-test program and are working to assess key operational scenarios customers might be faced with,” Smith noted.

Powered by a Turbomeca Arrius 2R Fadec turboshaft, the Jet Ranger X features a high-visibility cockpit equipped with Garmin G1000H avionics. Safety features include a high-inertia rotor system that delivers “superior autorotation capabilities.” The 505, which is slated to be certified by year-end, is one of three new aircraft currently under development at Bell Helicopter. It is also developing the fly-by-wire 525 Relentless medium twin and V-280 Valor tiltrotor.

The Bell 505 was designed based on extensive input provided by a customer advisory council. Bell Helicopter unveiled the Jet Ranger X at Heli-Expo 2014 last February and has already received letters of intent for more than 300 copies of the new helicopter.