Helicopters
Bell 407
A light single-engine helicopter for up to six passengers, with club seating for five in the rear cabin and a separate baggage compartment.
Reviewed by Kevin Singh, Founder · Specifications checked against manufacturer and type certificate data · Last updated 14 September 2026
At a glance
Bell 407 specifications
Figures are representative of the type; individual aircraft vary with configuration, load and conditions.
Where it fits
Club seating in a single-engine helicopter
The Bell 407 carries a pilot, one passenger up front and five in the aft cabin in club seating. The current 407GXi flies on one Rolls-Royce M250-C47E/4 turbine with FADEC and a Garmin G1000H NXi cockpit.
The aft cabin measures 85 cubic feet, and a separate 16 cubic foot compartment takes the bags. Its hover ceiling out of ground effect is 11,940 feet at 5,000 lb, which gives it margin on hot days and high sites.
Transport Canada certified the 407 in February 1996, and Bell delivered the 1,000th in June 2010. The line ran through the 407GX and 407GXP to the current 407GXi.
Trips with a lot of luggage, or long open-water sectors where a second engine matters. The baggage compartment is 16 cubic feet, and the 407 has one engine. For bigger holds the H130 is the better tool; for a twin, the H135.
Missions
What the desk books it for
Six passengers facing each other
Groups and families to the Cyclades from Athens or Mykonos, with five seated face to face in the aft cabin.
Athens to Crete and Corfu
Athens to Heraklion is 167 NM and Athens to Corfu 214 NM, inside the 337 NM range Bell publishes for the 407GXi. That figure carries no reserve, so the desk plans fuel and weather before it quotes.
Short hops across the Aegean
Mykonos to Porto Cheli at 105 NM and Mykonos to Bodrum at 111 NM, with the cross-border paperwork for Turkey filed alongside the trip.
Hot days and higher landing sites
Its hover performance suits summer heat and elevated sites, from Riviera hills to Kenya, planned against the weight of the party on the day.
Where it flies
Routes the desk flies on the Bell 407
Sectors from our Athens and Mykonos route guides that sit inside the Bell 407's published range. Each opens to the airports at both ends and what to know before you fly; the desk confirms the fuel plan and landing sites for the specific aircraft.
Cabin and baggage
Club seating for five and a separate hold
The aft cabin is 85 cubic feet with club seating for five, and one more passenger sits beside the pilot. The European type certificate sets six passengers as the maximum, and an optional Quiet Cruise kit reduces cabin noise.
Bags go in a separate compartment of 16 cubic feet, rated to 113 kg (250 lb). That is a small hold for six people, so soft bags and a light pack make the difference.
Tell the desk the bag count and sizes when you enquire. On a 407 the luggage, as much as the headcount, decides whether the trip stays on this aircraft or moves to one with bigger holds.
Performance and airports
Speed, weather and landing sites
Bell gives the 407GXi a maximum cruise of 133 knots at 5,000 lb, and a range of 337 NM at long-range cruise with no reserve, rising to 373 NM at 4,000 feet. Endurance is 4 hours, also without reserve.
On Greek island and Riviera transfers the sectors are short, so range is rarely the limit. Weather is: IFR is an optional configuration for the 407GXi under an FAA certificate issued in 2019, not standard, so many aircraft fly VFR and a low cloud base can hold a departure. The desk checks which configuration the aircraft has.
Villa lawns, hotel pads and private sites each need approval before a helicopter can land there. The desk checks the landing site, the pilot's approvals and the forecast for the specific Bell 407 before a quote goes out.
Compare the class
Bell 407 against the other helicopters
How the Bell 407 lines up against the other helicopters we cover. The H130 seats more and carries far more baggage, the AS350 and H135 cruise faster, and the H135, AS355 and A109C add a second engine; the 407's case is club seating for five and a separate baggage compartment.
| Aircraft | Passengers | Range | Cruise | Engines | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonardo A109C | Up to 7 | n/a | n/a | Twin turbine | 150 kg |
| Airbus H130 | Up to 7 | 327 NM | 128 kts | Single turbine | 39 cu ft |
| Bell 407This aircraft | Up to 6 | 337 NM | 133 kts | Single turbine | 16 cu ft |
| Airbus AS350 Ecureuil | Up to 5 | 340 NM | 136 kts | Single turbine | 35 cu ft |
| Airbus H135 | Up to 6 | 342 NM | 136 kts | Twin turbine | None |
| Robinson R44 | Up to 3 | 350 NM | 109 kts | Single piston | Under-seat only |
| Robinson R66 | Up to 4 | 350 NM | 110 kts | Single turbine | 18 cu ft |
| Airbus H120 | Up to 4 | 383 NM | 120 kts | Single turbine | 28 cu ft |
| Airbus AS355 Ecureuil 2 | Up to 5 | 395 NM | 120 kts | Twin turbine | 33 cu ft |
Chartering with Icarus Jet
How we charter the Bell 407
We source Bell 407s from operators vetted and approved for passenger transport, and the operator's name is on the quote. The desk checks the pilot's approvals, the landing sites at both ends and the weather minima for the flight before it checks availability, so the aircraft offered is one that genuinely fits the trip.
Quotes are all-in and itemised: aircraft and pilot, positioning, landing and handling, fuel and taxes, with nothing added after the flight that was not on the page. The number depends on where the nearest suitable helicopter is based, the dates and the landing sites, which is why we price your actual trip rather than publish a rate.
Questions
Bell 407 questions the desk gets
How far can a Bell 407 fly?
Bell publishes 337 NM for the 407GXi at long-range cruise, at 5,000 lb on a standard day at sea level, with no reserve, and 373 NM at 4,000 feet. Real flights keep a reserve, so the usable figure is lower. It still covers sectors such as Athens to Corfu at 214 NM.
How many passengers does a Bell 407 carry?
Up to six: one beside the pilot and five in the aft cabin. The European type certificate sets six passengers as the maximum.
What is the seating like?
The five rear seats face each other in club seating in an 85 cubic foot cabin, so a group can talk on the way. An optional Quiet Cruise kit reduces cabin noise on aircraft that have it.
How much luggage fits in a Bell 407?
The separate baggage compartment holds 16 cubic feet and up to 113 kg (250 lb). With six aboard that fills quickly, so tell the desk the bag count when you enquire.
Can a Bell 407 fly in cloud?
The 407GXi can, if it has the optional IFR configuration approved by the FAA in 2019 with single-pilot IFR capability. It is not standard, so the desk confirms the configuration of the specific aircraft.
What is the difference between the 407, 407GX and 407GXi?
The original 407 was certified in 1996. The 407GX added a Garmin G1000H cockpit, followed by the 407GXP, and the current 407GXi has the G1000H NXi and a FADEC 250-C47E/4 engine.
How fast is the Bell 407?
Bell gives the 407GXi a maximum cruise of 133 knots at 5,000 lb, or 136 knots at 4,000 lb, on a standard day at sea level.
Related
Around the Bell 407
Get your number
Charter the Bell 407
Send the route, the dates and the passengers. The desk checks range and baggage against the trip, then comes back with the aircraft that genuinely fit and an itemised quote.
Prefer to talk? Call +1 888 277 7203. The desk is staffed 24/7.
Comparing aircraft? Browse the Aircraft Guides in the Aviation Library, 600+ guides on chartering and operations.