Bell 430
The Bell 430 developed the Bell 230 into a longer, roomier light twin with a four-blade composite main rotor and a modern glass cockpit. Its stretched cabin made it attractive for air ambulance and corporate transport missions where the earlier Bell 222 family was tight on space. The type’s smooth, pointed fuselage retains the silhouette popularised by the 222, while its rotor system and engines were substantially updated. Fewer than 140 were built before production ended in 2008.

Did you know?
A stretched Bell 230 with a four-blade composite rotor and glass cockpit, roomy enough for air-ambulance work.
Specifications
| Length | 14.1 m (46 ft) |
|---|---|
| Height | 3.6 m (12 ft) |
| Rotor diameter | 11.3 m (37 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 8 |
| Persons on board | 10 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 4.2 t |
| Range | 348 NM (644 km) |
| Maximum speed | 150 kt (278 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 15,000 ft (4,572 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 15,000 ft (4,572 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,350 ft/min (6.9 m/s) |
| Fuel capacity | 935 l |
| Engines | 2x Rolls-Royce 250-C40B |
| Units built | 136 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Bell 430 starts as a Very rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
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