Royal Jordanian Air Force orders 10 Bell 505s

Bell Textron Inc. has announced signed agreement with the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) for 10 Bell single-engine 505 helicopters.

The contract includes the delivery of the aircraft with a flight training device and a computer-based training package to enable an enhanced approach to basic and advanced rotorcraft training at the King Hussein Air College in Mafraq, Jordan.

Sameer Rehman, Managing Director, Africa and Middle East at Bell said: “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.”

The Bell 505 has a Safran Arrius 2R engine with full authority digital engine control (FADEC), and has a maximum cruise speed of 231 km/h, with a range of 566 km. The aircraft is also equipped with a Garmin G1000H glass avionics suite.

“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, in turn increasing the capabilities of the Royal Jordanian Air Force,” said Brigadier General Mohammad F Hiyasat, Commander of the RJAF.

Bell recently delivered their first 505 helicopter to Greece.