Bell 412
The Bell 412 is a 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. It is a twin-turbine helicopter that has been popular on the civilian and military markets, and major users include Canada, Italy, and Japan. Several hundred have been produced since its introduction in 1979, and several iterations of upgrades and variations have been produced such as with upgraded cockpit electronics.
| Bell 412 | |
|---|---|
| Bell 412EP of the NSW Police Sydney | |
| Role | Multipurpose utility helicopter |
| National origin | United States/Canada |
| Manufacturer | Bell Helicopter |
| First flight | August 1979 |
| Introduction | 1981 |
| Primary users | Japan Ground Self Defence Force See Operators for others |
| Produced | 1979–present |
| Number built | 1,300+[1] |
| Developed from | Bell 212 |
| Variants | Bell CH-146 Griffon |
It has been manufactured under license in Italy as the Agusta-Bell AB412, Indonesia, and in Japan by Subaru. The Canadian Bell 412 were produced there because that is location of the Bell Textron factory.
Design and development edit
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.[2] The 412 model was followed by the 412SP (Special Performance) version, which featured a larger fuel capacity, a higher takeoff weight, and optional seating arrangements. In 1991, the 412HP (High Performance) variant with improved transmission replaced the SP version in production.[2]
In the early 2000s Bell offered the Bell 412EP as its Bell 412 LUH entrant in the U.S. Army Light Utility Helicopter program, where it competed against several other light helicopters for an order.[3]
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 (digital) engine control 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.[4] Over 700 Model 412s (including 260 by AgustaWestland) have been built.[5][unreliable source?]
The helicopter is powered by the Pratt and Whitney Canada twin-pack power plant with two turboshaft engines and has achieved the lowest in-flight shut-down rate of aircraft turboshaft engines. If one engine is shut down, a single engine can produce emergency power for 30 minutes. [6]
The aircraft has been produced in Montreal, Canada, in Italy under license by Agusta, and also in Indonesia, and in Japan by Subaru (Fuji Heavy Industries).[7] Bell 412 was also initially manufactured in Texas, USA.[8]
The emergency medical configuration can carry 6 patients/wounded and two attendants, or two stretchers and up to four attendants. [6]
By 2022, over 1300 Bell 412 had been delivered.[9]
Variants edit
- 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 412CF (CH-146 Griffon)
- 100 custom-built utility transport helicopters for the Canadian Forces, based on 412EP and designated by Bell as 412CF
- 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 Griffin HT1
- Advanced training helicopter based on the Bell 412EP, operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) between 1997 and 2018 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 between 2003 and 2023 at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.[10]
- Agusta-Bell AB 412
- Civil utility transport version, built under license in Italy by Agusta.[11]
- Agusta-Bell AB 412EP
- Italian-built version of the Bell 412EP.[11]
- Agusta-Bell AB 412 Grifone
- Military utility transport version, built under licence in Italy by Agusta.[11]
- Agusta-Bell AB 412 CRESO
- Italian-built version, fitted with a ground surveillance radar.
- Bell 412 LUH
- Entry for the U.S. Army Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) program. Lost to the EC145 entry (see UH-72 Lakota)[12]
- NBell 412
- Indonesian IPTN's licensed product of Bell 412[11]
Operators edit
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 edit
- Australian Army : 2 under lease at Army Aviation Training Center.[19]
- Royal Canadian Air Force
- 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (3e École de pilotage des Forces canadiennes)
Government operators edit
- Department of Fire and Emergency Services[23][24]
- Emergency Management Queensland[25]
- New South Wales Police Force[26]
- New South Wales Rural Fire Service[27]
- Chicago Fire Department[45]
- Delaware State Police[46]
- Los Angeles Police Department[47]
- Los Angeles County Fire Department[48]
- Miami-Dade County Fire Department[49]
- New York Police Department[50]
- Orange County Fire Authority[51]
- San Diego Fire Department[52]
- United States Park Police[53]
- Ventura County Fire Department[54]
- Virginia State Police[55]
Former edit
- Royal Netherlands Air Force. AB412 helicopters retired from SAR duties in 2015.[56]
- Polish Air Force, 1 412HP used 1993–2011[57][58]
Incidents and accidents edit
On April 4, 1991, a Bell 412 and Piper Aerostar collided in mid-air over a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. All five people on both aircraft, including United States senator John Heinz, along with two children on the ground, were killed.
On April 22, 1994, a Bell 412 medical Helicopter AirCare[61] from North Carolina Baptist Hospital crashed into mountainous terrain near Bluefield, West Virginia, killing all four crew members on board.
On July 9, 2002, a Bell 412 from the El Salvador Air Force crashed after a lightning strike, killing all four crew members and three passengers on board.
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 December 7, 2023, a Bell 412 EPI Helicopter operated by Guyanese military went down with 2 crew and 5 senior officers, at the border between Venezuela and Guyana during bad weather.
Specifications (412EP) edit
Data from International Directory of Civil Aircraft,[62] Bell 412EP Product Specifications[63]
General characteristics
- Crew: one-two pilots
- Capacity: up to 13 passengers, maximum external load of almost 6,614 lb (3,000 kg)[5]
- Length: 56 ft 1 in (17.09 m) including rotors
- Fuselage length: 43 ft (13 m)
- Height: 15 ft 0 in (4.57 m)
- Empty weight: 6,789 lb (3,079 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 11,900 lb (5,398 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3D Twin-Pac or PT6T-3DF Twin-Pac coupled turboshaft engine - each, 1,250 shp (930 kW)
- 900 shp (671 kW) single power section emergency power
- Main rotor diameter: 46 ft 0 in (14.02 m)
- Main rotor area: 1,662 sq ft (154.4 m2) *Blade sections: - root Boeing VR-7; tip Wortmann FX 71-H-080[64]
Performance
- Maximum speed: 140 kn (160 mph, 260 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 122 kn (140 mph, 226 km/h)
- Range: 529 nmi (609 mi, 980 km)
- Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,350 ft/min (6.9 m/s)
- Power/mass: 0.2663 hp/lb (0.4378 kW/kg)
See also edit
Related development
Related lists
References edit
Citations edit
- ^ "Subaru Bell's new pickup: the 412EPX". Vertical Mag. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ a b "Airliners.net". Airliners.net.
- ^ "Bell Helicopter LUH Submission Surpasses 3.1 Million Flight Hour Milestone". Vertical Mag. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "Bell Helicopter Introduces the Bell 412EPI: Boosts Performance and Reliability" (Press release). Las Vegas, NV: Textron. March 4, 2013. from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ a b Bell/Agusta Bell 412 – Medium Transport Helicopter, USA/Italy 2007-08-24 at the Wayback Machine, Aerospace-Technology.com
- ^ a b "Bell / Agusta Bell 412 - Aerospace Technology". www.aerospace-technology.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ "Bell 412EP - program supplier guide | Airframer". www.airframer.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ HeliHub.com (October 21, 2021). "Royal Thai Air Force retires five older Bell 412s". HeliHub.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ "Subaru Bell's new pickup: the 412EPX". Vertical Mag. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ ESD (April 3, 2023). "Griffons of RAF Akrotiri Give Way to Pumas". euro-sd.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Model 212 Twin Huey: USN-USMC UH-1N / Model 412 February 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Vectorsite.net, 1 December 2007.
- ^ "Bell 412LUH".
- ^ "Camp AKENO Junior Crew". www.mod.go.jp. from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
- ^ "Foreign firms bid for $2 billion chopper deal" 2018-06-22 at the Wayback Machine. The Japan Times/Reuters, Accessed 10 October 2014.
- ^ Waldron, Greg (June 20, 2018). "Bell targets Asia-Pacific attack helicopter opportunities". FlightGlobal. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ^ "Subaru and Bell announce collaboration on commercial 412 helicopter upgrade". textron.com. July 16, 2018. from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ^ "UH-X approaches maiden sortie". Flight International. Vol. 194, no. 5665. December 4–10, 2018. p. 13. ISSN 0015-3710.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap "World Air Forces 2024". Flight Global. flightglobal.com. 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ "Toll Helicopters pitches WOG-RW solution - Australian Defence Magazine". www.australiandefence.com.au. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "Εξοπλισμός Εθνικής Φρουράς (Κύπρος)". www.ellinikos-stratos.com. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ . Flightglobal Insight. 2021. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ "Turkey And Georgia Conducted A Naval Exercise". from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
- ^ "RAC Rescue Helicopters". from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
- ^ "RAC Rescue Helicopter fact sheet" (PDF). (PDF) from the original on March 23, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
- ^ "Queenslanders Gov.t Fleet". qld.gov.au. from the original on April 29, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
- ^ "Bell 412EPI helicopter for NSW Police Force". from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
- ^ Team, Coulson (April 3, 2020). "New South Wales Rural Fire Service Awards 412 Fleet Operation & Maintenance to Coulson Aviation PTY". Coulson Aviation Australia. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
- ^ . CorreioBraziliense.com.br. Archived from the original on September 20, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ "New helos for the Coast Guard". janes.com. from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
- ^ Johnson, Oliver (January 5, 2018). "Better, Faster, Stronger: The Canadian Coast Guard's new helicopter fleet". Vertical Magazine. from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ . Archived from the original on December 24, 2013.
- ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 3, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
- ^ "BELL 412 -Aviación Policial de la Policía Nacional". National Police of Colombia. January 23, 2016. from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
- ^ O'Connor, Kate (October 3, 2022). "First Subaru Bell 412EPXs Sold In Europe". AVweb. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "The Border Guard's vessels and aircraft". from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
- ^ "Polairud Dapatkan Heli Baru NBell-412 P-3003 Buatan PTDI". airspace-review.com (in Indonesian). December 4, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ "کاموف ۲۲۶تی، آینده هلیکوپترهای امداد در ایران؟". BBC News فارسی. BBC Persian. from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- ^ "AB-412 Guardia di Finanza". Helis.com. from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ Roelofs, Erik (April 2012). "Italy's Flying Foresters". Air International. Vol. 82, no. 4. pp. 78–81. ISSN 0306-5634.
- ^ "第二管区海上保安本部 仙台航空基地". from the original on November 24, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
- ^ Thompson, Paul Police Air Units 2017-02-10 at the Wayback Machine J-HangarSpace Retrieved February 22, 2017
- ^ "Introduction (Coast guard, Korea, South), Coast guard". janes.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
- ^ "South Korean Coast Guard Bell 412EP". from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
- ^ "Helikopterji in oprema". policija.si. from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
- ^ "Great Lake Saviors". Vertical Magazine. November 16, 2011. from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ . © Copyright 2010 by the Airborne Law Enforcement Association. Archived from the original on November 19, 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ "History of the Air Support Division". LAPD Online. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
- ^ . Los Angeles county fire department. Archived from the original on July 12, 2007. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ "Miami-Dade-Fire-Rescue". Miami-Dade County.gov. from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ "NYPD Bell 412". Helis.com. from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ "Orange County Fire Authority's New Bell 412 Fire and Rescue Helicopters". ©Copyright 2012 FDNNTV.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ "San-Diego-Fire signs for Bell-412". 2012 Copyright Shephard Press Limited. from the original on May 21, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
- ^ . Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ "New state-of-the-art helicopter arrives at Ventura County Aviation Unit". Ventura County Star. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ "State police secure funds to replace helicopter that crashed last summer, killing 2 troopers; new pilots being trained". July 2018.
- ^ "Aviation News – Royal Netherlands Air Force retires AB-412 and disbands 303 SAR Squadron". GAR - We've got aviation covered. January 31, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
gdziewojskowas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Bell 412 opuścił Okęcie. (in Polish)
- ^ . May 27, 2022. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
- ^ Cooper et al. 2011, p. 178
- ^ AirCare
- ^ Frawley, Gerald. The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003/2004, p. 45. Aerospace Publications, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7.
- ^ . Archived from the original on October 15, 2012.
- ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
Sources edit
- Cooper, Tom; Weinert, Peter; Hinz, Fabian; Lepko, Mark (2011). African MiGs, Volume 2: Madagascar to Zimbabwe. Houston: Harpia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9825539-8-5.
- Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, Vol. 180, No. 5321, 13–19 December 2011. pp. 26–52.
External links edit
- Bell Helicopter 412EP official page