Profile: When Bell released its Mk. II Valiant, operators of Mk. Is faced a choice of either upgrading to the new model's specifications, soldiering on with the older and less effective model, or switching to a different airplane. Those who could afford the Mk. II upgraded; the rest unloaded their Valiants onto the used-airplane market.
     DME snapped up a brace of surplus Mk. Is, looking for a fast reconaissance unit. Within days, their engineers began alterations; replacing the P&W P7 with a P&W R600B (an R600 with improved fuel injection and prop gearing), adding rubber bladders to the fuel tanks, and removing the dog basket were the major changes. The P&W plant was used since air-freighting parts from Britain costs
a bundle, while P&W is nearby.
     Pleased with the result, DME made arrangements with Bell for a supply of airframes which would become I-Es. DME's variant is quite popular, outselling the Mk. II in western North America.

Performance: Essentially similar to the Mk. II Valiant, the Mk. I-E has far superior range than its sibling, but the R600B cannot handle emergency power settings as well as a R-R Morgana; its fuel tanks are better protected; and it is somewhat easier on unit finances. It is slightly more vulnerable to sonic weapons, though.