FORT WORTH, TEXAS (February 7, 2014) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today its participation in the Singapore Airshow, to be held Feb. 11 – 16. Bell Helicopter will have a strong presence as an exhibitor, with a Bell 407GX and Bell 429 on static display as well as the debut of the Bell AH-1Z “Zulu” attack helicopter cockpit demonstrator. In addition, the U.S. Marine Corps will debut the Bell Boeing MV-22 Osprey in static and flying display.

 “The Singapore Airshow is an important event providing an opportunity for us to connect with our commercial and military customers in the Asia-Pacific region,” said John Garrison, Bell Helicopter’s president and CEO. “The versatility of our commercial and military product lines makes them ideally suited to meet our customers’ diverse mission needs.” The Bell 407GX is one of Bell Helicopter’s most versatile aircraft, with more than 1,000 in the fielded fleet. Featuring the Garmin　G1000HTM avionics package and enhanced safety features, the Bell 407GX performs a variety of missions and also makes an excellent training aircraft.

The Bell 429 delivers exceptional speed, range, hover performance and enhanced safety margins with a fully-integrated glass cockpit, advanced drive system and best-in-class WAAS navigation and IFR capability. The Bell 429 has more cabin space than any other light twin helicopter, with flat flooring and seating for seven passengers and one flight crew. Wide 60 inch side doors and optional rear clam-shell doors provide quick and easy access for flight crews. It is the first Bell Helicopter to be certificated through the Maintenance Steering Group-3 (MSG-3) process, which optimizes maintenance efficiency to improve safety. The Bell 429 WLG offers the same performance as the Bell 429 with retractable landing gear for ground taxi operations. Unveiled in October 2013, the Bell 429WLG was recently certified by Transport Canada and the National Civil Aviation of Brazil.

The Bell AH-1Z cockpit demonstrator will validate the performance capabilities of the ultimate attack helicopter in a simulated environment.  This state-of-the-art aircraft builds upon its proven heritage and now offers increased speed, range, firepower and payload for the modern battlefield and the most challenging environments. The Bell AH-1Z shares 85 percent commonality of maintenance-significant components with the UH-1Y “Yankee” utility helicopter, resulting in reduced logistics footprint and maintenance training costs.

The Bell Boeing V-22's unique combination of speed, range, payload and vertical lift are ideally suited to the diverse environments, geographies and mission-types performed by Asia-Pacific operators.  Achieving unprecedented mission success unachievable with other aircraft, the V-22 is considered one of the safest and most survivable vertical lift aircraft in the entire U.S. military fleet.

Bell Helicopter’s presence in the region was further enhanced by the opening of the Bell Helicopter Service Center in 2012. The 160,500 sq. ft. facility houses Bell Helicopter and Cessna hangars, a paint booth, warehouse, overhaul and maintenance shops, training, office areas and a 77,000 sq. ft. ramp.“Bell Helicopter has had a presence in Singapore for more than 30 years. With the opening of the Bell Helicopter Service Center in 2012, we are able to offer in-region sales and comprehensive aftermarket support throughout an aircraft’s lifecycle.” continued Garrison.

Established in 2008, the Singapore Air Show is widely recognized as Asia’s largest air show and a leading worldwide aerospace and defense exhibition.