Walk around a Bell 429 then walk around an H145. It’s incredible how inferior the Bell product has become. A double stacked tail rotor that has grounding straps all over it, looks like it’s from 1965. They look like they just stole odd parts and pieces from old machines and slapped them on and called it their new helicopter. No serious thought in engineering or design.

Then look at an Airbus product. Slick and clean, a fenestron, superior rotorhead and mechanics, superior avionics package, superior ride.

You get what you pay for that’s for damn sure.

why you crying about it 

said, I dont want your dumbazz flying me

Is no Eurocopter. AB spent $,$$$,$$$ to change Data plates from Eurocopter to Air Bus Helicopter

I’ve flown just about all the Bells, and I loved them for what they are, but  it’s clear who builds the superior product and that is Airbus.

They why are you here moaning? Every aircraft has a spot. Bell sucks in spots, airbus does, Sikorsky does, etc….thats why there are different manufacturers…..why don’t you see any airbus doing live voltage Powerline work center phase? That’s right, because MD destroys the competition for that specific type of work. Tools in the toolbox, only point a to b pilots care about the crap you’re talking about. Utility pilots want the best tool for the job.

 my guess local guy weighs in with more idiocy

lol wut

I’ve never found any Airbus helicopter user unfriendly.  May not be crazy about some design features but I can say that about every model every manufacturer

Search and Rescue in the 505 from Ft Worth PD?  They hate the one they have.  Go ask the actual people that fly it.  I have. Politics at work from the home grown OEM.  When the PD isn't even involved in the procurement process that says a lot.

https://news.bellflight.com/en-US/243180-fort-worth-police-department-adds-second-bell-505-to-public-safety-fleet

All comes down to what you like/enjoy flying, I loved the Huey and B222, Jet Rangers were meh. Hate the Astar, love the B105 and the EC135/45. Hate the S76, love the S92. All comes down to your personal preference. Now the mechs probably have a whole different list of what they prefer to work on. 

Attempt upgrades to their aging fleets instead of financing the R&D into totally new airframes.  Back in the late 80's, MBB/ECD/Airbus realized the US market demand, specifically in the HAA and Offshore sectors, and developed aircraft to meet that need.   Bell additionally placed most of their research into the tilt-rotor, which is a advanced concept.  But in the civil sector, it isn't [at this point] economically feasible.  This basically ran Bell out of any of the competitive HAA and Offshore market[s].  

Personally, I am like a lot of the older guys here in that I have a lot of time in the old Bell products.  In their day, great aircraft.  Been in the Airbus products since 1990 and prefer the Airbus much more.  

The adage, "You snooze, you lose," is relevant to Bell.  Sikorsky and MD didn't do anything to help their product line, either...

actually buys helicopters, who cares. I fly what they buy.

No skin in the fight, but mere observation only bell helicopters ever seen taxiing sideways because pilot was afraid of insufficient TR authority. Oh and the winds were under 12 kts.

Yes, you get what you pay for.  Paying for an over-engineered plastic electrical wonder of circuitry will get you down time and some annoyingly complex troubleshooting.  

But, both helicopters are popular amongst their own crowds and doing well.

Let’s say Europe can’t get parts out to support the Airbus fleets around the world because they are bogged down in wartime support. Might want to start looking for solutions to that problem now. At minimum shift some manufacturing to the States.

to happen even though Russia can out produce the EU in basic war materials, by far.  They just can't afford it, especially if oil goes below, say, $50/barrel.

Their mistake was to underestimate Ukraine and its external support.