Bell 505 Reaches 700+ Flight Hours with Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Bell Textron Inc. and Safran Helicopter Engines Collaborate on Green Aviation
Cologne, Germany (November 24, 2025) - Bell Textron Inc., a subsidiary of Textron Inc., announced a significant milestone at European Rotors 2025. A single Bell 505 helicopter has surpassed 700 flight hours using blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), demonstrating Bell's commitment to reducing carbon emissions and advancing sustainable aviation practices.
"Bell is proud to take this crucial step towards industry-wide carbon reduction goals," said Robin Wendling, Managing Director of Europe, Bell. "Our collaboration with Safran Helicopter Engines has provided us with cutting-edge insights into greener aviation technologies."
In March 2022, Bell and Safran Helicopter Engines announced a partnership to explore the technical and economic benefits of SAF on the Bell 505 powered by the Arrius 2R engine. Just over a year later, the Bell 505 became the first single-engine helicopter to fly on 100% SAF during a demonstration flight. Since July 2022, Bell has accumulated over 700 flight hours using blended SAF on a single Bell 505 helicopter at the Bell Training Academy.
"We are thrilled with the results of these SAF flights in partnership with Bell," said Jean-François Sauer, Safran Helicopter Engines EVP Programs. "SAF is crucial for making helicopter operations more sustainable. The Arrius 2R, like all our engines, can currently operate with up to 50% drop-in SAF. Soon, we'll enable 100% drop-in SAF, paving the way for wider adoption of this fuel for increased sustainability."
The Bell 505, with its Safran Arrius 2R engine, dual-channel FADEC, and Garmin G1000H NXi all-glass avionics suite, is a technologically advanced platform. Its wide panoramic windows, open cabin design, and Synthetic Vision technology make it ideal for various missions, including public safety, utility, and military training.
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ABOUT BELL
Bell has been pushing boundaries in aviation for over 90 years. We were pioneers, breaking the sound barrier and certifying the first commercial helicopter. We contributed to NASA's first lunar mission and introduced advanced tiltrotor systems. Today, we're leading the way in advanced air mobility.
Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, as a subsidiary of Textron Inc., we have strategic locations worldwide. Many of our employees have served in the military, making mission support a core value.
Our innovations deliver exceptional customer experiences, prioritizing safety, efficiency, and reliability.
ABOUT TEXTRON INC.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry leader, leveraging its global network to provide innovative solutions and services across aircraft, defense, industrial, and finance sectors. Textron is renowned for brands like Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, and Textron Systems.
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