Bell celebrated its 85th anniversary in July. Founded by Larry Bell in 1935, the company has put itself at the forefront of mobility, finding solutions. From breaking the sound barrier with pilot Chuck Yeager and the Bell X-1 plane to developing the world's first tiltrotor aircraft, Bell has consistently sought out innovative methods to improve its products.

Duncan van de Velde, MD for Europe and Russia, says: "As we celebrate our 85th anniversary, we also applaud the innovations that have made us one of the most forward-thinking and economical companies in our sector, with the smartest technology on offer. We look to the future and the need to ensure that we continue to provide our customers with the very best products and support solutions. Having more than 1,098 Bell aircraft in Europe across military, corporate, parapublic, SAR and cargo transport sectors over the years, we have a strong base to build on. We are continuing to grow our European footprint by collaborating with strong and innovative technology companies in Europe.

“With mobility trends such as air taxis capturing the imaginations of communities across the region, our role as a company will be to evolve our approach in the development of new flight systems. Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 85 years, we've been reimagining the experience of flight, and where it can take us.”

Bell currently has a suite of products in development including the Nexus air taxi concept, which aims to revolutionise the urban commute. Another product in development is the Autonomous Pod Transport (APT), which can go further and faster while carrying payloads at increased ranges and speeds.

“The future of Bell is linked to the future of flight,” comments Robert T. Hastings, Bell executive VP of strategic communications and government affairs. “For this, we have evolved to fulfil this vision and we are no longer just a company that works in aviation but rather a technology company that is redefining flight. We are wide open to any technology, opportunity, or service model that will help society become more mobile or more effective in the vertical dimension.”