Max Lunov, owner of Airborne Group, a representative for Bell in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, has recently celebrated completing a transatlantic flight in his newly acquired Bell 505, covering more than 10,000 kms over 55 flight hours and crossing 10 countries during the two-week mission. The journey began at the Bell Textron Canada Commercial Centre of Excellence and concluded in mainland Europe. Lunov was accompanied by crew member and drone operator Nazar Doroshkevych.

This marks the second successful transatlantic flight by Lunov, following his 2021 mission in a Bell 407GXi. Unlike that journey, which was supported by IFR capability, the most recent flight in the Bell 505 was completed entirely under VFR, without autopilot, a far greater challenge requiring exceptional skill, concentration and endurance.

“This flight demanded absolute precision in planning and execution,” exclaims Lunov, pilot and founder of Airborne Group. “Flying VFR across the Atlantic in a light helicopter without autopilot is not just about endurance, it's about trust in your aircraft, your crew and your own capabilities. The Bell 505 performed flawlessly, giving us the confidence to complete this extraordinary journey.”

The flight celebrates many accomplishments for the Bell 505, marking one of the longest transatlantic flights of its type, the first with two people on board and including the longest individual legs ever completed in the aircraft.

Since its introduction in 2017, more than 500 Bell 505 aircraft have been delivered, accumulating more than 100,000 flight hours. Combining its Safran Arrius 2R engine, dual channel FADEC and Garmin G1000H NXi all-glass avionics suite with a moving map display, the Bell 505 is one of the most technologically advanced platforms in its class. The added benefit of wide panoramic windows, open cabin design and Synthetic Vision technology has classified the Bell 505 as an ideal aircraft for long-haul journeys.