Bell Helicopter International

1973-1979

February 1975 – A peak load is reached.  Enrollment shows that 301 students are undergoing flight training and 364 students are in technical training.

March 1975 – Over 700 BHI logistics personnel are now based in Teheran.

March 1975 – BHI employees in Esfahan organize a chess club according to club vice president Lee Beavers.

March 1975 – BHI procurement department reaches full speed with orders for material being placed at the rate of 20,000 line items per quarter.

March 1975 – Depot maintenance personnel are fully capable to repair and overhaul airframes and components of the Government of Iran’s helicopter fleet.

March 1975 – Logistics training program has 539 Government of Iran personnel in graduate training programs with 412 potential students processed through initial orientation programs.

April 1975 – General Robert R. Williams is named present of BHI, succeeding Delk Oden who retired.  George M. Powell is named to the new position of vice president and general manager and is based at BHI headquarters in Teheran. 

April 1975 – BHI establishes a public affairs department.  The department, headed by Tim Gette, publishes the first issue of BHI News in Iran and which is distributed to all BHI employees in Iran and Texas.

April 1975 – BHI now has 1,739 employees with 77 personnel in Bedford, Texas; 773 in Teheran and 889 in Esfahan.

April 29, 1975 – Major General Manoucher Khosrowdad, flying a Bell Model 214A officially claims five world helicopter records.  They are Time-to-Climb to 3000, 6000 and 9000 meters and maximum altitude (approximately 30,000 feet or 9144 meters) and sustained altitude (approximately 29,000 feet or 8840 meters).  He is recognized by the Federacion Aeronautique Internacional (FAI) at the 1975 Paris Air Show.