Bell 412

:"For an overview of the whole Huey family of aircraft see Bell Huey"

Infobox Aircraft
name=Bell 412


caption=Norwegian Bell 412SP helicopters taking part in the NATO exercise Strong Resolve 2002
type=Multipurpose utility helicopter
manufacturer=Bell Helicopter
designer=
first flight=
introduced=1981
retired=
status=
primary user= Canadian Forces
more users= Jamaica Defence Force Royal Air Force
produced=
number built= over 869
unit cost=
developed from= Bell 212
variants with their own articles = CH-146 Griffon

The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a further development of the Bell 212 model, the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.

Development

The development began in the late 1970s with two Bell 212 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 the deliveries commencing in the same month. [http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=75 Bell 412 on Airliners.net] ]

The 412 model was followed by the 412SP (Special Performance) version featuring larger fuel capacity, higher takeoff weight and more optional seating arrangement. 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.

Over 700 Model 412s (including 260 by AgustaWestland) have been built and in operation. [ [http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/bell-412/ Bell/Agusta Bell 412 – Medium Transport Helicopter, USA/Italy] , Aerospace-Technology.com]

Variants

;Bell 412 : Utility transport helicopter.;Bell 412EP : Enhanced performance version.;Bell 412HP : High performance version.;Bell 412SP : Special performance version.;Military 412 : Armed military version.;CH-146 Griffon :Utility transport helicopter for the Canadian Forces.;Bell Griffin HT1 :Advanced training helicopter based on the Bell 412EP, operated by the 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 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. [http://www.vectorsite.net/avhuey.html#m5 Model 212 Twin Huey: USN-USMC UH-1N / Model 412] , Vectorsite.net, 1 December 2007.] ;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

Operators

Military operators

*BHR
*BAN
*BOT
*CAN
*CHI
*COL
*CZE
*ECU
*ESA
*GAB
*GHA
*GUY
*JAM
*HON
*IDN
*ITA
*LES
*MEX
*NLD
*NGA
*NOR
*PAK
*PAN
*PER
*PHI
*POL
*SAU
*SVK
*SLO
*KOR
*SRI
*SWE
*THA: Air Force
*UGA
*ARE
*UK
*VEN
*ZIM

Civilian and government operators

*AUS: Adelaide Bank Rescue Helicopter Service: Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service: Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia
*BRA: Brazilian Federal Police
*FIN: Finnish Border Guard
*IND: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation : GAIL
*FRO: Atlantic Airways
*JPN: Japan Coast Guard
*TUR: Turkish Coast Guard
*SLO: Slovenian Police
*USA: Department of Energy: United States Park Police: San Diego Fire-Rescue Department: Delaware State Police: Los Angeles City Fire Department: Los Angeles County Fire Department: New York Police Department: Puerto Rico Police Department: Miami-Dade County Fire Department: Blackwater USA (private military and security company): Chicago Fire Department

pecifications (412EP)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=copter
jet or prop?=prop

crew=2
capacity= 15
length main= 41 ft 9 in
length alt= 12.7 m
span main= 46 ft
span alt= 14 m
height main= 15 ft
height alt= 4.6 m
area main= 1,662 ft²
area alt= 154.4 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 6,759 lb
empty weight alt= 3,066 kg
loaded weight main=
max takeoff weight main= 11,900 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 5,397 kg
more general=

engine (prop)=Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3BE Turbo Twin-Pac
type of prop=turboshafts
number of props=2
power main= 900 shp
power alt= 671 kW
power original=

max speed main= 140 knots
max speed alt= 161 mph, 259 km/h
cruise speed main=
range main= 463 mi
range alt= 745 km
ceiling main= 20,000 ft
ceiling alt= 6,096 m
climb rate main=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.2663 hp/lb
power/mass alt= 0.437 W/kg
more performance=

armament=

avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* CH-146 Griffon
* Bell 212
* Bell 214
* UH-1 Iroquois
* UH-1N Twin Huey
* UH-1Y Venom

similar aircraft=

lists=
* List of civil aircraft
* List of active United Kingdom military aircraft

see also=

References

External links

* [http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/aircraft/commercial/bell412.cfm Bell 412 page on BellHelicopter.com]
* [http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=75 Bell 412 page] and [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?distict_entry=true&aircraft_genericsearch=Bell%20412 Bell 412 photos on Airliners.net]
* [http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/bell-412/ Bell / Agusta 412 page on aerospace-technology.com]
* [http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/bahrain-requests-6-bell-412-helis-03585/ "Bahrain Requests 6 Bell 412"] , DefenseIndustryDaily.com