The Bell 412 is a twin-engine utility helicopter of the Huey family manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212, with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.
Video Bell 412
Design and development
Development began in the late 1970s with two Bell 212s being converted into 412 prototypes. An advanced four-blade main rotor with a smaller diameter replaced the 212's two-blade rotor. A Bell 412 prototype first flew in August 1979. The initial model was certified in January 1981 with deliveries commencing in the same month.
The 412 model was followed by the 412SP (Special Performance) version featuring larger fuel capacity, higher takeoff weight and optional seating arrangements. In 1991, the 412HP (High Performance) variant with improved transmission replaced the SP version in production. The current production version, 412EP (Enhanced Performance), is equipped with a dual digital automatic flight control system. In 2013 Bell introduced the 412EPI which includes an electronic engine control (FADEC) for a PT6T-9 engine upgrade, and a glass cockpit display system similar to the Bell model 429. Also featured is a Garmin touchscreen navigation system, and the BLR Strake and Fast Fin upgrades for improved hover performance.
Over 700 Model 412s (including 260 by AgustaWestland) have been built.
Maps Bell 412
Variants
- Bell 412
- Standard Model with P&WC PT6T-3B
- Bell 412SP
- Special Performance version with P&WC PT6T-3BF engines
- Bell 412HP
- High performance version with P&WC PT6T-3BG or -3D engines
- Bell 412EP
- Enhanced performance version with P&WC PT6T-3DF engines
- Bell 412EPI
- Glass cockpit version with P&WC PT6T-9 electronic controlled engines
- Bell 412CF (CH-146 Griffon)
- 100 custom-built utility transport helicopters for the Canadian Forces, based on 412EP and designated by Bell as 412CF
- Bell Griffin HT1
- Advanced training helicopter based on the Bell 412EP, operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) since 1997 as an advanced flying trainer. Operated by the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury and the Search and Rescue Training Unit at RAF Valley.
- Bell Griffin HAR2
- Search and Rescue helicopter based on the Bell 412EP, operated by No. 84 Squadron RAF since 2003 at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
- Agusta-Bell AB 412
- Civil utility transport version, built under license in Italy by Agusta.
- Agusta-Bell AB 412EP
- Italian-built version of the Bell 412EP.
- Agusta-Bell AB 412 Grifone
- Military utility transport version, built under licence in Italy by Agusta.
- Agusta-Bell AB 412 CRESO
- Italian-built version, fitted with a ground surveillance radar.
- NBell 412
- IPTN's licensed product of Bell 412
- Panha 412EP
- Iranian domestically reverse-engineered version of AB 412EP, which has been in use with Iranian military. 4 of these variant were introduced at October 8, 2016 by Red Crescent of Iran.
Operators
The Bell 412 is used by private and commercial operators. It is particularly popular in the oil industries, military and for law enforcement use.
Military operators
- Algeria
- Algerian Air Force
- Argentina
- Argentine Air Force
- Botswana
- Botswana Defence Force
- Cameroon
- Cameroon Air Force
- Canada
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- Canadian Coast Guard
- Royal Canadian Air Force
- Chile
- Chilean Air Force
- China
- People's Liberation Army Ground Force
- People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
- Colombia
- Colombian Navy
- Dominican Republic
- Dominican Air Force (2 on order)
- El Salvador
- Air Force of El Salvador
- Eritrea
- Eritrean Air Force
- Ghana
- Ghana Air Force
- Guatemala
- Guatemalan Air Force
- Guyana
- Guyana Defence Force
- Honduras
- Honduran Air Force
- Indonesia
- Indonesian Army
- Indonesian Navy
- Italy
- Italian Army
- Jamaica
- Jamaica Defence Force
- Japan
- Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (future user)
- Lesotho
- Lesotho Defence Force
- Mexico
- Mexican Air Force
- Montenegro
- Ministry of Defence - Three EPI on order as part of modernization efforts.
- Morocco
- Royal Moroccan Navy -- two to be delivered in 2018
- Netherlands
- Royal Netherlands Air Force
- Nigeria
- Nigerian Air Force -- two seized by Nigerian Customs Service handed over to Nigerian Air Force
- Norway
- Royal Norwegian Air Force
- Pakistan
- Pakistan Air Force
- Pakistan Army
- Panama
- Panamanian Public Forces
- Peru
- Peruvian Air Force
- Peruvian Navy
- Philippines
- Philippine Air Force
- Saudi Arabia
- Royal Saudi Air Force
- Slovenia
- Slovenian Air Force
- South Korea
- South Korean Air Force
- Coast Guard
- Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka Air Force
- Thailand
- Royal Thai Air Force
- Royal Thai Police
- Turkey
- Turkish Coast Guard
- United Arab Emirates
- United Arab Emirates Air Force
- United Kingdom
- Royal Air Force
- Uruguay
- National Navy of Uruguay -- Two on order
- Venezuela
- Venezuelan Army
- Venezuelan Navy
- Zimbabwe
- Air Force of Zimbabwe
Governmental operators
- Australia
- Babcock Mission Critical Services,
- Department of Fire and Emergency Services
- Emergency Management Queensland
- New South Wales Police Force
- MedSTAR
- Brazil
- Federal Police
- Canada
- Surete du Quebec
- National Research Council Canada
- Canadian Coast Guard
- Colombia
- National Police of Colombia
- Czech Republic
- Police of the Czech Republic
- Finland
- Finnish Border Guard
- Italy
- Carabinieri
- Guardia di Finanza
- State Forestry Corps
- Japan
- Japan Coast Guard
- Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
- Slovenia
- Slovenian National Police
- United States
- Chicago Fire Department
- Delaware State Police
- Los Angeles City Fire Department
- Los Angeles County Fire Department
- Miami-Dade County Fire Department
- New York City Police Department
- Orange County Fire Authority
- San Diego Fire Department
- United States Park Police
Incidents and accidents
On April 4, 1991, a Bell 412 collided with a small plane carrying United States Senator H. John Heinz III, which killed the senator.
On December 10, 2006, a Bell 412 medical helicopter Mercy Air 2 crashed in mountainous terrain near Hesperia, California. All three crew members on board died.
On February 6, 2008, a Bell 412 crashed due to a malfunction, killing Major General Javed Sultan, the commanding officer for Kohat garrison, along with two brigadiers and five other military personnel in South Waziristan Agency, Pakistan.
Specifications (412EP)
Data from International Directory of Civil Aircraft, Bell 412EP Product Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: one-two pilots
- Capacity: up to 13 passengers, maximum external load of almost 6,614 lb (3,000 kg)
- Length: 56 ft 1 in (17.1 m)
- Rotor diameter: 46 ft (14.0 m)
- Height: 15 ft (4.6 m)
- Disc area: 1,662 ft² (154.4 m²)
- Empty weight: 6,789 lb (3,079 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 11,900 lb (5,397 kg)
- Fuselage length: 43 ft (13.1 m)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3D or PT6T-3DF Twin-Pac turboshafts, 1,250 shp (932 kW), 900 shp (671 kW) for each power section
Performance
- Maximum speed: 140 knots (161 mph, 259 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 122 knots (140 mph, 226 km/h)
- Range: 609 mi (up to 980km)
- Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,096 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,350 ft/min (6.86 m/s)
- Power/mass: 0.2663 hp/lb (437 W/kg)
See also
- Related development
- CH-146 Griffon
- Bell 212
- Bell 214
- Bell UH-1 Iroquois
- Bell UH-1N Twin Huey
- Bell UH-1Y Venom
- Related lists
- List of civil aircraft
- List of active United Kingdom military aircraft
References
- Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, Vol. 180 No. 5321, 13-19 December 2011. pp. 26-52.
External links
- Bell Helicopter 412EP Official Site
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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