Bell Flight is positioning its Bell 505 Jet Ranger X light helicopter as a potential replacement for the U.S. Army’s UH-72 Lakota, taking aim at the military’s new “Flight School Next” initiative. This program, designed to modernize rotary-wing training at Fort Novosel in Alabama, includes a six-week theoretical component followed by up to 18 months of practical flight lessons.
The Army’s current concerns about the operational costs and availability of the Airbus-made Lakota, coupled with its complicated design, have prompted the search for a more efficient alternative. Notably, these issues have raised alarms regarding the preservation of essential flying skills among new aviators.
At a recent vertical aviation exposition, Carl Coffman, Bell’s Vice President of Military Sales and Strategy, emphasized the advantages of the 505 Jet Ranger X. He articulated that transitioning to this single-engine helicopter could reduce training costs by half compared to the UH-72 Lakota. Coffman highlighted the 505’s design as beneficial in reinstating fundamental flying skills, such as proficient control of the aircraft’s stick, rudder, and tail rotor, while also familiarizing trainees with advanced cockpit technologies.
Should the U.S. Army select Bell’s proposal, the company plans to deliver a specialized variant of the 505 Jet Ranger X tailored for instrument flight rules (IFR)—a key requirement for pilot training. The manufacturing of this variant is set to take place at Bell’s assembly facility in Mirabel, Canada, which marks a departure from the company’s previous offer for U.S. Navy training, proposed to be based in Ozark, Alabama. Coffman noted, “This is still a U.S. aircraft. It’s not just about where the aircraft’s final assembly takes place.”
The formal request for proposals from the Army is expected to open in April. In addition to Bell, other competitors in the bidding process will include California-based Robinson Helicopters and Texas-based Schweizer RSG.
The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X, designed for a variety of roles including tactical missions, training, medical airlift, commercial services, and recreational flights, features a five-seat capacity. It measures 43 feet (approximately 13 meters) in length and has a rotor diameter of 37 feet (11 meters). The helicopter is powered by a Safran Arrius 2R turboshaft engine, generating 505 horsepower. In its military configuration, the aircraft can reach a top speed of 135 knots (250 kilometers or 155 miles per hour), with a range of 306 nautical miles (approximately 352 miles or 566 kilometers). It also boasts a service ceiling of 18,610 feet (5,670 meters) and an endurance of up to four hours.
