Jonathan Bailey Posted March 6, 2014 Report Share Posted March 6, 2014 I was shocked to just find out Bells are now built in Canada.I had always assumed they were American built. Forget the damn 429 for me! I will get a Beechcraft KingAir 350 instead. They are made in Witchita, Kansas. I will paint her in chartreuse/black two-tone custom paint and proudlyname her "American Original". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearly Retired Posted March 6, 2014 Report Share Posted March 6, 2014 What do you have against foreign-made stuff? What kind of car do you drive? You want something American-made? Buy a Sikorsky/Schweizer 300! Ooooooh wait, you can't - Sikorsky shut the production line down right after buying it. Damn. But hey, that's the American way: Big company buys smaller company and then decides that smaller company doesn't generate "expected revenue" and so it gets shut down :-/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam32 Posted March 6, 2014 Report Share Posted March 6, 2014 Why not just get a UH-1H Plus Plus...American made, American history icon, excellent performer, cheaper then a 429 or any Eurotrash... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cburg Posted March 6, 2014 Report Share Posted March 6, 2014 Rotorway...in business for almost 50 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pilothooks Posted March 6, 2014 Report Share Posted March 6, 2014 Kaman and Sikorsky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pilot#476398 Posted March 6, 2014 Report Share Posted March 6, 2014 Robinson R22. The best "little" helicopter ever made!,...the R44 ain't too shabby either, and quite popular around the world from what I hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam32 Posted March 6, 2014 Report Share Posted March 6, 2014 Scotts 47... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apiaguy Posted March 6, 2014 Report Share Posted March 6, 2014 The 269 line is up and running... First Sikorsky deliveries have already been made. Sikorsky has outsourced 100% of the components. They are simply assemblers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cburg Posted March 6, 2014 Report Share Posted March 6, 2014 The 269 line is up and running... First Sikorsky deliveries have already been made. Sikorsky has outsourced 100% of the components. They are simply assemblers.Good to know...I just bought one...used one that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Bailey Posted March 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2014 Why not just get a UH-1H Plus Plus...American made, American history icon, excellent performer, cheaper then a 429 or any Eurotrash...No air conditioning. I have just written to Bell Helicopter to ask them which models are American-made and air-conditioned (either factory or aftermarket). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Bailey Posted March 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2014 What do you have against foreign-made stuff? What kind of car do you drive? You want something American-made? Buy a Sikorsky/Schweizer 300! Ooooooh wait, you can't - Sikorsky shut the production line down right after buying it. Damn. But hey, that's the American way: Big company buys smaller company and then decides that smaller company doesn't generate "expected revenue" and so it gets shut down :-/ My truck is a Tundra made in Texas. The last I checked, that was an American state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Bailey Posted March 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2014 No air conditioning. I have just written to Bell Helicopter to ask them which models are American-made and air-conditioned (either factory or aftermarket). Here is their quick response: Coulman, OwenTo Me Today at 4:02 PMHi Jonathan, Thanks for your interest in Bell Products. Currently, the 412EP/EPI, 429, 407/GX, and 206L4 are assembled in Mirabel, Canada from parts made here in the United States. (In comparison to American Eurocopter, which assemble in the US from European made parts) From Mirabel, the unpainted, unfinished are flown to Piney Flats, TN where the rest of the components are installed Additionally two new models, the 505 Jetranger X is to be built in Lafayette LA and the 525 is being built in Amarillo, TX. All our models offer air conditioning as an option. I hope this answers your questions. Please feel free to contact me if you have any other general or model-specific questions Best Regards Owen CoulmanRegional Sales Manager- Western RegionBell Helicopter760-407-5073ocoulman@bh.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cburg Posted March 7, 2014 Report Share Posted March 7, 2014 Spent a lot of time overseas and saw how loyal they are to their domestic brands, and wished we could be more like it. Cadillac ELR TV Ad, 'Work Hard' http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7BkA/cadillac-elr-work-hard Were we nuts when we pointed to the moon? We went up there and you know what we got? Bored…so we left. We’ve got a car up there that we left the keys in it. You know why? Because were the only ones going back….that’s why. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeroscout Posted March 7, 2014 Report Share Posted March 7, 2014 Jonathan Bailey has certainly added some levity to the forum. He seems like the lovable crackpot character. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galadrium Posted March 8, 2014 Report Share Posted March 8, 2014 Enstrom Helicopters. Made in Michigan for over 50 years, They've recently increased their production capability and have a new training helicopter on the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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