Bell helicopters on their way to Guyana

The expansion of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Air Corps continues. Two Bell helicopters started their long delivery flight to Guyana on 18 November 2025 and were recently seen in Puerto Rico on their way down south.

The contract for these brand-new helicopters was signed early October 2024, as part of Guyana’s military capabilities expansion programme. It follows the handover of a twin engine Tecnam P2012 aircraft last summer, which received registration 8R-MAB, and two HAL-built Do228s, which were taken on strength last year.

This acquisition reflects the GDF’s commitment to expand its operational reach, especially in remote and underserved regions of Guyana. The country’s recently discovered oilfields as well as threats by neighboring Venezuela fuel the GDF’s expansion. The Air Corps has been an operator of Bell helicopters for many decades, previously operating Bell-models 206, 212 and 412. Of these, only one Bell 412EPi is currently in active service, with two Bell 206 stored.

The helicopters involved in this deal are a Bell 407GXi (msn 56455) still with delivery-registration N564BH and Bell 429 (msn 57539) N539BT, which became 8R-KNU, both were seen at the Bell-Textron facility at Isla Grande airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Delivery to Guyana occurred on 6 December 2025.

Meanwhile, the first Guyanese Bell 412, 8R-GFP (msn 33040) which had been stored for over a decade, was recently dismantled for transport to its new owner in the USA.

Credit photos: Johnny Von Rod