Bell announces first 505 purchase agreement in the Netherlands

Bell Textron has announced the first Bell 505 sale in the Netherlands to Gerrit Verwijs, owner of Verdegro Group, a Dutch public safety infrastructure manufacturer.

“Bell is proud to work alongside the Verdegro Group as they welcome their first Bell aircraft,” said Robin Wendling, Managing Director of Europe, Bell. “With the expansion of the Bell 505 to the Netherlands, we are excited to enter a new era of supporting customers in [the] region with the multi-mission capabilities of this advanced platform.”

With its newly acquired Bell 505, the Verdegro Group plans to use the helicopter for its company travels, including meetings with its international customer base and representation of its facilities near Breda.

“The Bell 505 will redefine our company travels across Europe,” said Verwijs. “We will be way more efficient in meeting multiple customers in a short period. The helicopter allows us to take our customers to different project sites and easily present our footprint near Breda.”

The Bell 505 integrates the Safran Arrius 2R engine with dual-channel full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Garmin G1000H NXi all-glass avionics suite, which includes a moving map display. Features such as wide panoramic windows, an open cabin layout, and synthetic vision technology contribute to its suitability for public safety operations.

Late last year Fort Worth Police Department, in the US state of Texas, announced the purchase of a second Bell 505 helicopter.