Bell Bell 205A-1

8-occupant turbine helicopter · Private helicopters · in production 1968-1980 · See its reach on the 3D globe

Indicative 1974 market price€2.09m to €2.5m

Estimated annual cost at 80 h€365k

Five-year cash outlay€4.1m

Key figures

Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.

Seats	8
Reported payload proxy	630 kg
Reported range	200 nm
Practical planning radius (4 people)	Not used for mission ranking
Cruise speed	108 kt
Runway need	Vertical
Pressurised	No
Fuel	Jet A-1
Fixed annual base	€136k
Direct cost per flight hour	€1550

The ownership trade-off

The 205A-1 combines 8-seat helicopter capability with about 200 NM reported range and about 108 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.

Cost picture at different usage

40 hours/year: about €303k per year ( €7575 per flight hour all-in)
80 hours/year: about €365k per year ( €4563 per flight hour all-in)
120 hours/year: about €427k per year ( €3558 per flight hour all-in)
180 hours/year: about €520k per year ( €2889 per flight hour all-in)

Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at €273k per year at 80 hours. Condition, engine time remaining and avionics matter more than the year itself, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model.

Where it fits well

108 kt cruise supports efficient local and regional flying.
200 nm reported range is retained for profile context, but PlaneFit does not use it for mission ranking yet.
630 kg reported payload proxy and 8 seats define the cabin context pending source-level normalization.

Limitations to price honestly

The 205A-1 combines 8-seat helicopter capability with about 200 NM reported range and about 108 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.
€136k fixed annual planning base before flying a single hour.
Component life and mission-specific landing permissions dominate real-world utility.

Recommended missions

Family and small-group touring with a weight-and-balance check for every trip.
Short and medium regional trips, accepting fuel stops when conditions require.
Recreational, training or personal travel where operating efficiency is more important than airline-like speed.