Nautilus Aviation and Australia’s First Bell Textron 505 Jetranger X Helicopters VH-VSB & VH-VTB Delivered via Central Queensland Airports

A couple of lovely helicopter visitors were spotted making multiple stops at Central Queensland Airports on Thursday 14 December while on delivery to their new home at Cairns.

Nautilus Aviation has taken delivery of Australia's first two Bell Helicopters Textron 505 Jetranger X helicopters which have been registered VH-VSB and VH-VTB and we were very lucky to be invited to have a closer look at these factory fresh choppers as they made a brief visit to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

Both helicopters started the day at the Sunshine Coast and were noted visiting Bundaberg, Gladstone, Mackay and Townsville Airports for fuel while on their journey to Nautilus Aviation's Cairns Airport base.

The striking red coloured Bell 505s will reportedly be used by Nautilus Aviation for industry training on the type, commercial charter and tourism operations.  Hawker Pacific will also lease one of the Bell 505s from Nautilus Aviation for a demonstration tour of Australia in early 2018.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Bell with its Australian Jetranger X type certification in March this year.