Bell 212

:"For an overview of the whole Huey family of aircraft see Bell Huey" infobox Aircraft
name = Bell 212 Twin Huey
type = Helicopter
manufacturer = Bell Helicopter


caption=Bell 212 operated by Kachina for the California Department of Forestry departs from the Mojave Spaceport
designer =
first flight =
introduced = 1968
introduction=
retired =
status =
primary user = CHC Helicopter
more users =
produced =
number built =
unit cost =
developed from = Bell 204/205
variants with their own articles = 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 Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, 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 6.23 m³ (220 ft³). An external load of up to 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) can be carried.

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 Turbo Twin-Pac made up of two coupled PT6 turboshaft engines. They are capable of producing up to 1,342 kW (1,800 shp). Should one engine fail the remaining engine can deliver 671 kW (900 shp) for 30 minutes, or 571 kW (765 shp) 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

*Bell Model 212 - Bell Helicopters company designation for the UH-1N.
*Twin Two-Twelve - Civil utility transport version. It can carry up to 14-passenger.
*Agusta-Bell AB 212 - Civil or military utility transport version. Built under license in Italy by Agusta.
*Bell Model 412 - Bell 212 with a four-bladed semi-rigid rotor system. See Bell 412 for further information.

Operators

Civil operators

;CAN
* CHC Helicopter;FRO
* Atlantic Airways;GRL
* Air Greenland

Government operators

;CAN
* Canadian Coast Guard;GER
* Federal Ministry of the Interior ;CRO
* Police;JPN
*Japan Coast Guard;MKD
* Police;MEX
* various police forces;SRB
* Police;USA
* San Diego Fire Department

pecifications (Bell 212)

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

ref=Bell 212 Rotorcraft Flight Manual BHT-212IFR-FM-1 revision 3, 01 May 1998

crew=1 (two for IFR operation)
capacity=14
length main= 57 ft 1.68 in
length alt= 17.43 m
span main= 48 ft
span alt= 14.64 m
height main= 12 ft 6.83 in
height alt= 3.83 m
area main= 1,809.5 ft²
area alt= 168.3 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 6529.4 lb
empty weight alt= 2961.7 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 11,200 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 5,080 kg
more general=

engine (prop)=Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3 or -3B (2 PT6s driving a common gearbox)
type of prop=turboshaft
number of props= 1
power main= 1,800 shp
power alt= 1,342 kW
power original=

max speed main= 120 knots
max speed alt= 138 mph, 223 km/h
cruise speed main= 100 knots
cruise speed alt= 115 mph, 186 km/h
never exceed speed main= 120 knots
never exceed speed alt= 138 mph, 223 km/h
range main= 237 nm
range alt= 439 km
ceiling main= 17,400 ft
ceiling alt= 5,305 m
climb rate main= 1,745 ft/min
climb rate alt= 532 m/min
loading main= 6.19 lb/ft²
loading alt= 300.5 kg/m²
thrust/weight=

armament=

avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Bell 204/205
* Bell 412
* UH-1 Iroquois
* UH-1N Twin Huey
* UH-1Y Venom

similar aircraft=

lists=
* List of aircraft of the AOC
* List of civil aircraft

see also=

References

* Chant, Christopher, "Fighting Helicopters of the 20th Century," Graham Beehag Books, Christchurch, Dorset, England (1996).
* Debay, Yves, "Combat Helicopters," France: Histoire & Collections (1996)
* Mutza, Wayne. "UH-1 Huey in Colors". Carrolton, TX: Squadron Signal. ISBN 0-89747-279-9

External links

* [http://www.vectorsite.net/avhuey.html The Bell UH-1 Huey at Greg Goebel's AIR VECTORS]