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The Bell 407 JetRanger (ICAO: B407 / WAKE: LIGHT) is a four-blade, single-engine medium helicopter. Created in Second Life by Spijkers & Wingtips, the aircraft was based on the real-life Bell 407 Jet Ranger manufactured by Bell Helicopter.

Background

Development of the real-life Bell 407 began in 1993 as a replacement for Bell's ageing Model 206 series. A derivative of the Bell 206L-4 LongRanger, the 407 uses the four-blade, soft-in-plane design rotor with composite hub developed for the United States Army's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior instead of the two-blade, semi-rigid, teetering, rotor of the 206L-4. The 407's airframe is generally similar to the LongRanger, but includes a carbon fiber composite tailboom. The helicopter has standard seating for two crew and five cabin seats.[1] Full production began in 1996 at Bell's Mirabel, Quebec, Canada plant and produced 140 airframes in 1997, to fill the initial orders.[1] The Bell 407 is frequently used for corporate and offshore transport, as an air ambulance, law enforcement, electronic news gathering and movie making.

Released in mid-2014, the JetRanger's Second Life mesh replica was modelled/textured by Adrian Faulkwing and Deae Parere, and scripted by Tig Spijkers. The helicopter utilizes S&W's standard incremental collective/cyclic flight system and is equipped with internal/external lighting, animated rotors (with dust/water particle effects), opening/closing doors, optional fuel system, cargo hook, an emergency floatation system, and functioning cockpit instruments. Although not necessary for flight, the aircraft also comes with a standard S&W pilot's heads-up display (HUD). The aircraft is resizable and like all S&W helicopters, is fully modifiable and is supported by several independent mod-developers.

Features

  • Pilot's heads-up display (HUD) attachment with:
    • Airspeed, compass, vertical horizon, RPM, vertical speed, and altitude indicators.
    • Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) with region mapping.
    • Main power, floats toggle, control mode toggle, FlySafe toggle, hold altitude, co-pilot control, hover mode, fuel toggle, lights toggle, combat system, search light, lock/unlock, siren, winch/cargo hook control, MIDS, and camera control switches.
  • Functioning cockpit instruments with:
    • Altimeter, vertical speed, airspeed, compass, artificial horizon, and fuel gauge indicators.
    • Electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) with region mapping.
    • Instrument lighting.
  • Animated components (instruments, main rotor, tail rotor, x6 doors, and winch system).
  • Realistic lighting (navigation lights, strobes, beacon, and front-facing search light).
  • Cargo winch system with cargo hook and rescue basket/harness.
  • Emergency floatation system (optional).
  • Incremental collective/cyclic flight system.
  • Optional simulated fuel (DSA Fuel).

Images

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Bell 407". Jane's Helicopter Markets and Systems. Couldson, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2010. subscription article, posted April 13, 2010.

See also

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