Five-seat light turbine utility and training helicopter · Private helicopters · production 2017–present · See its reach on the 3D globe
A Bell 505 costs approximately $1.49m (€1.38m) to $1.78m (€1.65m) to buy at 2025 market values, and about $171k (€158k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $2,133 (€1,975) per flight hour all-in. It seats 5, cruises at 125 kt (144 mph) and has a published range of 306 nm (567 km). Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 1,669 kg |
|---|---|
| Useful load | 680 kg |
| Usable fuel | 321 L |
| Service ceiling | 18,610 ft |
| Engine | Safran Helicopter Engines Arrius 2R, 505 shp takeoff / 459 shp continuous |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 5 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 1,032 lb (468 kg) |
| Published planning range | 306 nm (567 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 205 nm (380 km) |
| Cruise speed | 125 kt (144 mph) |
| Runway need | Vertical |
| Landing gear | Skids |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Jet A-1 |
| Fixed annual base | $97k (€90k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $918 (€850) |
A modern, flexible and relatively accessible turbine helicopter, but useful payload and turbine reserves remain costly.
Indicative cash costs at 2025 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $134k (€124k) | $3,348 (€3,100) | $2.29m (€2.12m) |
| 80 h / year | $171k (€158k) | $2,133 (€1,975) | $2.47m (€2.29m) |
| 120 h / year | $207k (€192k) | $1,728 (€1,600) | $2.66m (€2.46m) |
| 180 h / year | $262k (€243k) | $1,458 (€1,350) | $2.93m (€2.71m) |
Every figure above is built from a $97k (€90k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $918 (€850) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $184k (€171k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
Bell 505 cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
On top of a pilot certificate, this aircraft obliges the person flying it to hold the following. Each one is time and money before the first trip, and insurers usually attach their own minimums on top.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 2025 market price for a Bell 505 is $1.49m (€1.38m) to $1.78m (€1.65m). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, a Bell 505 works out at roughly $171k (€158k) annually, which is about $2,133 (€1,975) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $918 (€850).
Published range is 306 nm (567 km). With 4 people aboard and realistic reserves, plan on a practical radius of about 205 nm rather than the brochure figure.
Beyond a pilot certificate, a Bell 505 requires rotorcraft-helicopter rating. A helicopter category and class rating on your pilot certificate. Fixed-wing time does not transfer, and most owners reach this type through a full course rather than an add-on. These are US requirements and are stated for orientation; confirm them against the current regulation and an instructor.
Bell 505 is a helicopter and needs no runway, but landing permissions and component-life maintenance dominate its real-world utility.