Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced the sale  and delivery of a Bell 429 in a wheeled landing gear (WLG) configuration to Australia’s Alto Group. This would be the first Bell 429 WLG helicopter in Australia and Alto Group’s third Bell helicopter.

The Alto Group is a leading Australian automotive retailer, employing over 600 people and selling upwards of 12,000 vehicles annually. When delivered, the Alto Group will be utilizing the  Bell 429 for corporate and VIP transport.

“After a long and exhaustive evaluation, we found the Bell 429 helicopter, with the wheel landing gear configuration, as the right corporate helicopter for the Alto Group,” said Anthony Altomonte,  managing director, Alto Group. “As an owner and pilot, the Bell 429’s ease of operation and reliability, ample cabin space, coupled with its smooth and quiet ride allows us to travel more quickly and efficiently to our rural operations to support the Alto  Group’s growth in Australia.”

“We are pleased the Alto Group has selected the Bell 429 as their corporate helicopter of choice. Throughout the region, our corporate customers have experienced how the comfort and speed  of the Bell 429 has supported their businesses and lifestyle,” said Dan McQuestin, Business Development Director for Bell in Australia and New Zealand. “We look forward to working with Anthony and the Alto Group through our Bell network in the region to support  high readiness rates for their Bell 429.”

With over 400 Bell 429s around the globe, the aircraft has been one of the most successful light twin helicopters on the market since its certification in 2009. The Bell 429 is known for  its exceptional speed, performance, range, and low lifecycle cost. The aircraft’s readiness makes it ideal for a variety of missions such as law enforcement, para-public, oil and gas, and corporate transport.