Bell 212

Bell 212 Twin Huey
Bell 212 operated by Kachina departs from the Mojave Spaceport
Role Helicopter
National origin United States / Canada
Manufacturer Bell Helicopter
Introduction 1968
Primary user CHC Helicopter
Developed from Bell 204/205
Variants UH-1N Twin Huey
Bell 412

The Bell 212 Twin Huey (also known as the Twin Two-Twelve) is a two-bladed, twin-engined, medium helicopter that first flew in 1968. Originally manufactured by Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth, Texas, production was moved to Mirabel, Quebec, Canada in 1988, along with all Bell commercial helicopter production after that plant opened in 1986.[1][2]

The 212 is marketed to civilian operators and has a fifteen-seat configuration, with one pilot and fourteen passengers. In cargo configuration the 212 has an internal capacity of 220 ft³ (6.23 m³). An external load of up to 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) can be carried.

Contents

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Development

Based on the stretched fuselage Bell 205, the Bell 212 was originally developed for the Canadian Forces as the CUH-1N and later redesignated as the CH-135. The Canadian Forces took delivery of 50 starting in May, 1971. At the same time the United States military services ordered 294 Bell 212s under the designation UH-1N.

By 1971 the 212 had been developed for commercial applications. Among the earliest uses of the 212 in civil aviation was by Helicopter Service AS of Norway to be used in support of offshore oil rigs. Today the 212 can be found used in logging operations, maritime rescue and resupply in the Arctic on the Distant Early Warning Line or North Warning System.

The 212's main rotor is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3 Twin-Pac made up of two coupled PT6 power turbines driving a common gearbox. They are capable of producing up to 1,800 shp (1,342 kW). Should one engine fail the remaining engine can deliver 900 shp (671 kW) for 30 minutes, or 765 shp (571 kW) continuously, enabling the 212 to maintain cruise performance at maximum weight.

Early 212s configured with an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) instrument package were required to have a large and very obvious fin attached to the roof of the aircraft, above and slightly behind the cockpit. This fin was initially determined necessary to alter the turning performance of the aircraft during complex instrument flight maneuvers, but now not required due to revised stipulations of the type certificate. Many aircraft still fly with the modification.

In 1979, with the purchase of eight by the Civil Air Authority, the 212 became the first U.S. helicopter sold in PRC.

The ICAO designator for this aircraft as used in a flight plan is "B212". The Bell 412 is a further development of the Bell 212, the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.

Variants

Operators

Civil operators

 Australia
 Brazil
 Canada
 Egypt
 Faroe Islands
 Greenland
 Philippines
 United Arab Emirates

Government operators

 Argentina
 Brazil
 Brunei
 Bolivia
 Canada
 China
 Colombia
 Germany
 Croatia
 Japan
 Macedonia
 Mexico
 Philippines
 Slovenia
 Serbia
 United States

Specifications (Bell 212)

Data from Bell 212 Rotorcraft Flight Manual [3]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Related lists

References

Further reading

External links