Bell reveals orders for three corporate Bell 429s in Europe
Three Bell 429s in corporate configuration have been sold to European customers, said the company at AERO Friedrichshafen.
Bell Textron has signed purchase agreements for three Bell 429s with VIP operators in the UK and Estonia, the manufacturer revealed at the AERO Friedrichshafen 2026 event in Germany today.
European demand for corporate-configured aircraft – particularly the Bell 429 – is growing, said Robin Wendling, MD, Europe, Bell. “The Bell 429 combines speed, comfort, and luxury, which are three things that are especially ideal for our corporate and VIP customers. We look forward to working with our three new operators as they expand their fleets with this exceptional platform.”
Last month, Bell revealed new luxury interiors for the Bell 429 at the Verticon vertical lift trade show in Atlanta, Georgia. The new options are the latest upgrade in the Designer Series range for the platform, which were prompted by customer feedback, according to the manufacturer.
More than 500 Bell 429s are in operation worldwide and have logged over 735,000 flight hours, said Bell. Designed for passenger transport, the Bell 429 has one of the largest cabin spaces in the light twin helicopter category, featuring flat flooring and seating for up to seven people, plus an integrated avionics suite and IFR capability, it says.
Meanwhile, the AERO Friedrichshafen 2026 event is taking place between April 22nd to April 25th. This year’s event is expected to attract more than 32,000 visitors – nearly 50% of whom hold a pilot’s licence – from over 80 countries. More than 760 exhibitors are said to be attending the event.
