Editing Bell 407 (section)

==Design and development==
[[File:CBOSS Bell 407.jpg|thumb|Bell 407 at [[HeliRussia]] 2008]]

In 1993, Bell began the development of the New Light Aircraft as a replacement for its Model 206 series. The program resulted in the 407, a development of Bell's LongRanger.<ref name=Frawley_Civil>Frawley, Gerard. ''The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004'', p. 47. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. {{ISBN|1-875671-58-7}}.</ref>  A 206L-3 LongRanger was modified to serve as the 407 demonstrator.<ref name=Frawley_Civil/>  The demonstrator used hardware for the 407 and added molded fairings to represent the 407's wider fuselage then under development.<ref name=Frawley_Civil/>

The demonstrator was first flown in 1994, and the 407 program was publicly announced at the Heli-Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, in January 1995.<ref name=Frawley_Civil/><ref name=Bell_launched_407>{{cite web|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/bell-launches-model-407-22595/bell-launches-model-407.html|title=Bell launches Model 407|access-date= 9 April 2023|author= |last= |first= |author-link= |work= [[Flight International]]|date= February 8, 1995 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121114154301/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/bell-launches-model-407-22595/|archive-date= November 14, 2012|url-status= dead}}</ref> The first 407 prototype (C-GFOS) accomplished its [[maiden flight]] on June 29, 1995, and the second prototype (C-FORS) followed on July 13, 1995. After a short development program, the first production 407 (C-FWQY/N407BT) flew on November 10, 1995.<ref name=Bell_407_JAWA/>

The Bell 407 features the four-blade main rotor developed for the OH-58D (Model 406). The blades and hub use composite construction without life limits, and provide better performance and a more comfortable ride. The 407's fuselage is {{convert|8|in|cm}} wider, increasing internal cabin space, and includes 35% larger main cabin windows. The more powerful [[Allison Model 250|Rolls-Royce/Allison 250-C47]] turboshaft allows an increase in [[Maximum Takeoff Weight]] and improves performance at hotter temperatures and/or higher altitudes.<ref name=Frawley_Civil/>   The helicopter has standard seating for two crew and five cabin seats.<ref name=Bell_407_JHMS>"Bell 407". ''Jane's Helicopter Markets and Systems''. Couldson, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2010. [http://search.janes.com/Search/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/binder/jhms/jhms4995.htm@current&pageSelected=allJanes&keyword=Bell%20407&backPath=http://search.janes.com/Search&Prod_Name=JHMS& subscription article, posted April 13, 2010]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}.</ref>

The 407 was certificated by [[Transport Canada]] on February 9, 1996, with the [[Federal Aviation Administration|FAA]] following shortly after on February 23.<ref name=Bell_407_JAWA/><ref>[http://www.flug-revue.rotor.com/frtypen/FRB407.htm "Bell Helicopter 407"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203181337/http://www.flug-revue.rotor.com/frtypen/FRB407.htm |date=February 3, 2010 }}. Flug Revue, March 19, 2001.</ref>  Full production began in 1996 at Bell's [[Mirabel, Quebec]], Canada plant and produced 140 airframes in 1997, to fill the initial orders.<ref name=Bell_407_JHMS/>

In 1995, Bell tested a shrouded tail rotor on the 407,<ref name=Bell_launched_407/> but did not proceed with it. For a time, Bell studied developing the ''Model 407T'' twin-engine variant, but instead chose to develop the essentially all-new twin-PW206D powered [[Bell 427]].<ref name=Frawley_Civil/>

Bell began deliveries of the 407 in 1996.  The 1,000th helicopter was delivered on June 15, 2010.<ref name=Bell_407_JAWA/> 1,400+ by Dec 2017,<ref name=AIN13dec2017/> and over 1600 were produced by early 2023.<ref name=23total>{{Cite web |last=Rotorcraft |first=Mark Huber • Contributor- |title=Life Flight Network Adds Four Bell 407GXi Helicopters {{!}} AIN |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-02-06/life-flight-network-adds-four-bell-407gxi-helicopters |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=Aviation International News}}</ref>

===ARH-70 and Bell 417===
The ''[[Bell ARH-70 Arapaho|ARH-70]]'' armed reconnaissance helicopter, developed for the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] was based on the 407, but was later canceled on October 16, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=defenselink.mil |url=http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12288 |title=Dod Announces Non-Certification Of Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter Program |access-date=2008-10-17| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081022162302/http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12288| archive-date= 22 October 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

The ''Bell 417'' was a growth variant of the Bell 407, in essence a civil version of the Bell ARH-70. The 417 made its first flight on June 8, 2006.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=October 2006 |title=Bell 417 achieves first flight |magazine=Rotorbreeze |volume=55 |issue=3 |page=12}}</ref> The 417 was to be powered by a [[Honeywell HTS900]] turboshaft engine, producing {{convert|970|shp|abbr=on}} and includes full [[FADEC]] controls. The cabin sat five passengers in club-seating configuration, in addition to the crew of two.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bellhelicopter.textron.com/en/companyInfo/pressReleases/PR_060226_417Unveiled.cfm |publisher=textron.com |title=Bell Helicopter Unveils New Bell 417 |access-date=2006-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061124101725/http://www.bellhelicopter.textron.com/en/companyInfo/pressReleases/PR_060226_417Unveiled.cfm |archive-date=24 November 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The civilian 417 was canceled at Heli-Expo 2007 in Orlando.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=aviationtoday.com |url=http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/personalcorporate/exectransport/9817.html |title=Bell Scraps Year-Old 417, Finding No Market |access-date=2007-06-03 |archive-date=December 10, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210163157/http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/personalcorporate/exectransport/9817.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Bell 407GX and 407GT===
[[File:Bell 407 GX Cockpit in 2011.jpg|thumb|Bell 407 GX cockpit|alt=Bell 407 GX cockpit]]

On March 4, 2013, Bell unveiled a new armed version of the Bell 407GX, named the ''407GT''.  It incorporates the [[Garmin G1000]]HTM flight deck to easily provide flight information.  It can include [[infrared camera]]s, various armaments, and equipment to perform different missions such as armed transport, search-and-rescue, reconnaissance, and medical evacuation.  The GT version uses the Universal Weapons Pylon, derived from the [[Bell OH-58 Kiowa]], to carry different weapons including machine guns, rockets, and anti-armor missiles.<ref name="GT">[http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en_US/News/PressReleases/NewsRelease/NewsRelease.html?ReleaseID=1792180 "Bell Helicopter Introduces Increased Mission Capability with the Bell 407GT"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315134602/http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en_US/News/PressReleases/NewsRelease/NewsRelease.html?ReleaseID=1792180 |date=2013-03-15 }}. Bell Helicopter, March 4, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/baes-apkws-rockets-integrated-on-bells-new-model-407gt-383032/ "BAE’s APKWS rockets integrated on Bell’s new Model 407GT"]. ''FlightGlobal'', March 5, 2013.</ref>