Bell Textron facts for kids
Logo as of 2018
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Formerly
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Aerospace Defense |
| Predecessor | Bell Aircraft |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Headquarters |
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US
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Key people
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Lisa Atherton (President & CEO) |
| Parent | Textron |
Bell Textron Inc. is an American company that builds aircraft. They are known for making military and commercial helicopters, as well as special aircraft called tiltrotors. Bell's main offices are in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. They build military aircraft in Texas and commercial helicopters in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada. Bell is part of a larger company called Textron.
Contents
The Story of Bell: From Fighters to Helicopters
How Bell Aircraft Started
The company began on July 10, 1935, as the Bell Aircraft Corporation. It was founded by Lawrence Dale Bell in Buffalo, New York. At first, Bell Aircraft focused on designing and building fighter aircraft. Some of their early planes included the P-39 Airacobra and the P-63 Kingcobra. They also made the P-59 Airacomet, which was the first jet fighter built in America. Another famous aircraft they made was the Bell X-1, which was the first plane to fly faster than the speed of sound!
The Rise of Helicopters at Bell
In 1941, Bell hired a clever inventor named Arthur M. Young. He helped the company start researching and developing helicopters. Bell wanted to build more than just military planes. Their first full-size helicopter was the Bell 30, which flew for the first time in 1942.
The Bell 47 helicopter became a huge success. It was the first helicopter in the world approved for civilian use. This meant people could use it for things other than war. Because the helicopter business grew so much, Bell moved its helicopter division to Hurst, Texas, in 1951.
Bell Becomes Part of Textron
In 1960, a company called Textron bought Bell Aerospace. This included Bell's successful helicopter division. The helicopter part of the company was renamed Bell Helicopter Company.
A few years later, Bell's UH-1 Iroquois helicopter, often called the "Huey," became very famous during the Vietnam War. Its success made the helicopter division the biggest part of Textron. In 1976, the division's name changed again to Bell Helicopter Textron.
Bell Helicopter also worked closely with another aircraft company, AgustaWestland, on different helicopter and tiltrotor projects. In 2018, the company simplified its name to just "Bell."
What Bell Builds Today
Bell makes many different types of aircraft. Their facility in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, builds most of Bell's commercial (non-military) helicopters. They delivered their 5,000th helicopter from this plant in 2017!
Commercial Helicopters for Everyday Use
Bell makes many helicopters for civilian use, like for police, medical transport, or private travel. Here are some of their well-known models:
- Bell 47: An early and very successful helicopter, first flown in 1946.
- Bell 206: A popular light helicopter, used for many purposes.
- Bell 407: A modern helicopter with four blades, based on the 206.
- Bell 412: A larger, four-bladed helicopter often used for search and rescue.
- Bell 429 GlobalRanger: A modern, light twin-engine helicopter.
- Bell 505 Jet Ranger X: A newer version of the classic Jet Ranger.
- Bell 525 Relentless: A large, powerful helicopter currently being developed.
- Bell Nexus: A new type of aircraft called an "air taxi" that uses electric power and tilting fans.
Military Helicopters for Defense
Bell also builds many helicopters for military forces around the world.
- Bell H-13 Sioux: A military version of the Bell 47.
- Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey): One of the most famous helicopters ever, used widely in the Vietnam War.
- Bell AH-1 Cobra: An early and successful attack helicopter.
- Bell AH-1 SuperCobra: A more powerful version of the Cobra.
- Bell OH-58 Kiowa: A light observation and reconnaissance helicopter.
- Bell UH-1Y Venom and Bell AH-1Z Viper: Modern, upgraded versions of the Huey and Cobra.
Amazing Tiltrotor Aircraft
Bell is also a leader in building tiltrotor aircraft. These unique aircraft can take off and land like helicopters, but then tilt their rotors forward to fly like airplanes. This makes them very fast and versatile.
- Bell XV-3 and Bell XV-15: Early experimental tiltrotors.
- V-22 Osprey: A well-known tiltrotor developed with Boeing, used by the military.
- Bell V-280 Valor: A newer tiltrotor currently being developed.
- Bell V-247 Vigilant: Another tiltrotor in development.
Where Bell Aircraft Are Made
Bell has several important facilities where they build and support their aircraft:
- Military Aircraft Facilities
- Fort Worth, Texas: This area has six manufacturing facilities. The Manufacturing Technology Center (MTC) in Fort Worth is key for developing new aircraft like the Bell V-280 Valor.
- Amarillo, Texas: This plant, near the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport, assembles military helicopters like the H1 and V-22.
- Commercial Aircraft Facilities
- Mirabel, Quebec, Canada: Opened in 1983, this facility is next to the Montreal-Mirabel International Airport. It produces parts and assembles Bell's commercial helicopters, including the 407, 412, 429, and 505 models.
Images for kids
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Previous Bell logo
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Bell 206B JetRanger III
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Comparison of the Bell 212 (U.S. Navy HH-1N) and 412 (Mercy Air) at the Mojave Airport
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Bell 412EP Griffin HT1 helicopter of the UK Defence Helicopter Flying School
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Bell Nexus ‘Air Taxi’ at Smithsonian in 2022
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Bell Nexus ‘Air Taxi’ at Smithsonian in 2022
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V-22 in flight
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V-280 in flight
See also
- Leonardo Helicopters
- Airbus Helicopters
- Sikorsky Aircraft
