Jump to content

Bell 412

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Bell 412 helicopter)

Bell 412
Bell 412EP of the NSW Police Sydney
General information
TypeMultipurpose utility helicopter
National originUnited States/Canada
ManufacturerBell Helicopter
Primary usersJapan Ground Self Defence Force
See Operators for others
Number built1,300+[1]
History
Manufactured1979–present
Introduction date1981; 43 years ago (1981)
First flightAugust 1979; 45 years ago (1979-08)
Developed fromBell 212
VariantsBell CH-146 Griffon

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.

It has been manufactured under license in Italy as the Agusta-Bell AB412, in Indonesia by Indonesian Aerospace, and in Japan by Subaru. The Canadian Bell 412 was produced in Canada, but it was already the location of the main Bell Textron factory.

Design and development

[edit]
Bell 412CF looking forward from the tail
Bell 412 on approach

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]

A Chilean Air Force Bell 412

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, in Indonesia by Indonesian Aerospace, and also in Japan by Subaru (Fuji Heavy Industries).[7] The 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 helicopters had been delivered.[9]

Variants

[edit]
Bell 412HP of Heli Austria
RAF Griffin HT1
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]
UH-X prototype
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 Aerospace's (formerly IPTN) licensed product of Bell 412.[11]
Subaru-Bell UH-2 [ja](Formerly known as UH-X)[13]
Modified version of the Bell 412 EPI; 150 on order to meet the JGSDF's requirement for a UH-1J replacement.[14][15][16]
Subaru-Bell 412EPX
Commercial version of UH-X.[17][18]

Operators

[edit]

The Bell 412 is used by private and commercial operators. It is particularly popular in the oil industries, military, law enforcement, and for medevac use. Around 2022-23, the unit cost for a 412EPX model was between US$14.5 million[19] and US$16 million.[20]

Military operators

[edit]
Chilean Air Force Bell 412
Algeria
Algerian Air Force[21]
Argentina
Argentine Air Force[21]
Australia
Australian Army : 2 under lease at Army Aviation Training Center.[22]
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani Air Force[21]
Bahrain
Bahraini Air Force[21]
Botswana
Botswana Defence Force[21]
Cameroon
Cameroon Air Force[21]
Canadian CH-146 Griffon
Canada
Royal Canadian Air Force
3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (3e École de pilotage des Forces canadiennes)
Main article: Bell CH-146 Griffon
Chile
Chilean Air Force[21]
Colombia
Colombian Navy[21]
Cyprus
Cypriot National Guard[23]
El Salvador
Air Force of El Salvador[21]
Eritrea
Eritrean Air Force[21]
Agusta-Bell AB-412 of the Italian Army
AB-412 cockpit
Ghana
Ghana Air Force[21]
Guatemala
Guatemalan Air Force[21]
Guyana
Guyana Defence Force[21]
Honduras
Honduran Air Force[21]
Indonesia
Indonesian Army[21]
Indonesian Navy[21]
Italy
Italian Army[21]
Iraq
412M on order.[24]
Jamaica
Jamaica Defence Force[21]
JGSDF UH-2 in November 2023 at Camp Akeno, Japan
Japan
Japan Ground Self Defence Force[21]
Lesotho
Lesotho Defence Force[21]
Mexican Air Force Bell 412EP, 2012
Mexico
Mexican Air Force[21]
Montenegro
Montenegrin Air Force[25]
Morocco
Moroccan Navy[21]
Nigeria
Nigerian Air Force[21]
Norway
Royal Norwegian Air Force[21]
Pakistan
Pakistan Air Force[21]
Pakistan Army[21]
A Slovenian Air Force Bell 412
Panama
National Aeronaval Service of Panama[21]
Peru
Peruvian Air Force[21]
Peruvian Navy[21]
Philippines
Philippine Air Force - 7 Units Active out of 13[26] in Inventory in 2024. [27]
Saudi Arabia
Royal Saudi Air Force[21]
Slovenia
Slovenian Air Force[21]
Somalia
Somali Air Force[28]
Two Bell 412 of the Republic of Korea Air Force
South Korea
South Korean Air Force[21]
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Air Force[21]
Tanzania
Tanzania People's Defense Force[21]
A 412 of the Royal Thai Air Force
Thailand
Royal Thai Air Force[21]
Tunisia
Tunisian Air Force[21]
Turkey
Turkish Coast Guard[29]
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates Air Force[21]
Uruguay
Uruguayan Navy[21]
Venezuela
Venezuelan Army[21]
Venezuelan Navy[21]
Zimbabwe
Air Force of Zimbabwe[21]

Government operators

[edit]
New South Wales Bell 412EP at Wagga Wagga with the Rural Fire Service
Australia
Department of Fire and Emergency Services[30][31]
Emergency Management Queensland[32]
New South Wales Police Force[33]
New South Wales Rural Fire Service[34]
Brazil
Federal Police[35]
Canada
Canadian Coast Guard[36][37]
National Research Council[38]
Surete du Quebec[39]
Colombia
National Police of Colombia[40]
Croatia
Croatian Ministry of Interior[41]
A Finnish Border Guard Agusta Bell AB-412
Czech Republic
Police of the Czech Republic[42]
Finland
Finnish Border Guard[43]
Indonesia
Indonesian National Police[44]
Iran
Iranian Red Crescent Society[45]
An Italian Guardia di Finanza Agusta Bell AB-412
Italy
Guardia di Finanza[46][unreliable source?]
State Forestry Corps[47]
Japan
Japan Coast Guard[48]
Tokyo Metropolitan Police[49]
South Korean National Police Bell 412
South Korea
Coast Guard[50][51]
Slovenia
Slovenian National Police[52]
United States
Chicago Fire Department[53]
Delaware State Police[54]
Los Angeles Police Department[55]
Los Angeles County Fire Department[56]
Miami-Dade County Fire Department[57]
New York Police Department[58]
Orange County Fire Authority[59]
San Diego Fire Department[60]
United States Park Police[61]
Ventura County Fire Department[62]
Virginia State Police[63]

Former

[edit]
An LA County Fire Dept. 412 sits atop a helipad in the mountains in the Angeles National Forest.
Netherlands
Royal Netherlands Air Force. AB412 helicopters retired from SAR duties in 2015.[64]
Poland
Polish Air Force, 1 412HP used 1993–2011[65]
United States
Los Angeles Fire Department[66]
Uganda
Uganda Air Force[67]
United Kingdom
Royal Air Force

Incidents and accidents

[edit]

Specifications (412EP)

[edit]
Rotor head and transmission of a Bell 412

Data from International Directory of Civil Aircraft,[74] Bell 412EP Product Specifications[75]

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)
  • Blade sections: root: Boeing VR-7; tip: Wortmann FX 71-H-080[76]
  • 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)

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]
  1. ^ "Subaru Bell's new pickup: the 412EPX". Vertical Mag. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Airliners.net". Airliners.net.
  3. ^ "Bell Helicopter LUH Submission Surpasses 3.1 Million Flight Hour Milestone". Vertical Mag. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  4. ^ "Bell Helicopter Introduces the Bell 412EPI: Boosts Performance and Reliability" (Press release). Las Vegas, NV: Textron. March 4, 2013. Archived from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Bell/Agusta Bell 412 – Medium Transport Helicopter, USA/Italy Archived 2007-08-24 at the Wayback Machine, Aerospace-Technology.com
  6. ^ a b "Bell / Agusta Bell 412 - Aerospace Technology". www.aerospace-technology.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  7. ^ "Bell 412EP - program supplier guide | Airframer". www.airframer.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  8. ^ HeliHub.com (October 21, 2021). "Royal Thai Air Force retires five older Bell 412s". HeliHub.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  9. ^ "Subaru Bell's new pickup: the 412EPX". Vertical Mag. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  10. ^ ESD (April 3, 2023). "Griffons of RAF Akrotiri Give Way to Pumas". euro-sd.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d Model 212 Twin Huey: USN-USMC UH-1N / Model 412 Archived February 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Vectorsite.net, 1 December 2007.
  12. ^ "Bell 412LUH".
  13. ^ "Camp AKENO Junior Crew". www.mod.go.jp. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  14. ^ "Foreign firms bid for $2 billion chopper deal" Archived 2018-06-22 at the Wayback Machine. The Japan Times/Reuters, Accessed 10 October 2014.
  15. ^ Waldron, Greg (June 20, 2018). "Bell targets Asia-Pacific attack helicopter opportunities". FlightGlobal. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  16. ^ "Subaru and Bell announce collaboration on commercial 412 helicopter upgrade". textron.com. July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  17. ^ "UH-X approaches maiden sortie". Flight International. Vol. 194, no. 5665. December 4–10, 2018. p. 13. ISSN 0015-3710.
  18. ^ Charles, Michael Maya (June 20, 2022). "Subaru Bell's new pickup: the 412EPX". MHM Publishing Inc. Vertical.
  19. ^ "Ventura County approves purchase of new 412EPX helicopter". AirMed&Rescue. February 14, 2022.
  20. ^ "Inside The $20 Million Bell 412EPX". Aviation Base. November 28, 2023.
  21. ^ 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 "World Air Forces 2024". Flight Global. flightglobal.com. 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  22. ^ "Toll Helicopters pitches WOG-RW solution - Australian Defence Magazine". www.australiandefence.com.au. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  23. ^ "Εξοπλισμός Εθνικής Φρουράς (Κύπρος)". www.ellinikos-stratos.com. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  24. ^ "Iraq Approved To Buy Armed Bell 407M, 412M Helos | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  25. ^ "World Air Forces 2021". Flightglobal Insight. 2021. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  26. ^ https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1036773
  27. ^ "World Air Forces 2025". Flightglobal Insight. 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  28. ^ "Arms transfer database". armstransfers.sipri.org. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  29. ^ "Turkey And Georgia Conducted A Naval Exercise". Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  30. ^ "RAC Rescue Helicopters". Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  31. ^ "RAC Rescue Helicopter fact sheet" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on March 23, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  32. ^ "Queenslanders Gov.t Fleet". qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on April 29, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  33. ^ "Bell 412EPI helicopter for NSW Police Force". Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  34. ^ 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.
  35. ^ "PF tem mais dois helicópteros que não levantam voo há quase dois anos". CorreioBraziliense.com.br. Archived from the original on September 20, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  36. ^ "New helos for the Coast Guard". janes.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  37. ^ Johnson, Oliver (January 5, 2018). "Better, Faster, Stronger: The Canadian Coast Guard's new helicopter fleet". Vertical Magazine. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  38. ^ "ARCHIVED - Bell 412 (ASRA)". Archived from the original on December 24, 2013.
  39. ^ "Le service héliporté de la Sûreté du Québec" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 3, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  40. ^ "BELL 412 -Aviación Policial de la Policía Nacional". National Police of Colombia. January 23, 2016. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  41. ^ 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.
  42. ^ "Policie České Republiky - Letecká služba - Technika". Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  43. ^ "The Border Guard's vessels and aircraft". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  44. ^ "Polairud Dapatkan Heli Baru NBell-412 P-3003 Buatan PTDI". airspace-review.com (in Indonesian). December 4, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  45. ^ "کاموف ۲۲۶تی، آینده هلیکوپترهای امداد در ایران؟". BBC News فارسی. BBC Persian. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  46. ^ "AB-412 Guardia di Finanza". Helis.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  47. ^ Roelofs, Erik (April 2012). "Italy's Flying Foresters". Air International. Vol. 82, no. 4. pp. 78–81. ISSN 0306-5634.
  48. ^ "第二管区海上保安本部 仙台航空基地". Archived from the original on November 24, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  49. ^ Thompson, Paul Police Air Units Archived 2017-02-10 at the Wayback Machine J-HangarSpace Retrieved February 22, 2017
  50. ^ "Introduction (Coast guard, Korea, South), Coast guard". janes.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  51. ^ "South Korean Coast Guard Bell 412EP". Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  52. ^ "Helikopterji in oprema". policija.si. Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  53. ^ "Great Lake Saviors". Vertical Magazine. November 16, 2011. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  54. ^ "Delaware Marks 40 Years of Service". © Copyright 2010 by the Airborne Law Enforcement Association. Archived from the original on November 19, 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  55. ^ "History of the Air Support Division". LAPD Online. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  56. ^ "L.A. County Fire". Los Angeles county fire department. Archived from the original on July 12, 2007. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  57. ^ "Miami-Dade-Fire-Rescue". Miami-Dade County.gov. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  58. ^ "NYPD Bell 412". Helis.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  59. ^ "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.
  60. ^ "San-Diego-Fire signs for Bell-412". 2012 Copyright Shephard Press Limited. Archived from the original on May 21, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  61. ^ "Bald Eagle Rescue is a team effort". Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  62. ^ "New state-of-the-art helicopter arrives at Ventura County Aviation Unit". Ventura County Star. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  63. ^ "State police secure funds to replace helicopter that crashed last summer, killing 2 troopers; new pilots being trained". July 2018.
  64. ^ "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.
  65. ^ Bell 412 opuścił Okęcie. (in Polish)
  66. ^ "Air Operations | Los Angeles Fire Department". May 27, 2022. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  67. ^ Cooper et al. 2011, p. 178
  68. ^ "Remembering the John Heinz Tragedy, Twenty-Five Years Later". Main Line Today. April 11, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  69. ^ Aircraft Accident/Incident Summary Report (PDF) (Report). National Transportation Safety Board. September 17, 1991. AAR9101S – via NTSB.gov.
  70. ^ Times, Maeve Reston Maeve Reston is a former political reporter for the Los Angeles (December 12, 2006). "Air crews mourn 3 killed in Cajon Pass". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  71. ^ Aviation Investigation Final Report (Report). National Transportation Safety Board. April 20, 2021. LAX07FA056. Retrieved July 30, 2008.
  72. ^ "Guyana military helicopter crash kills 5 officers and leaves 2 survivors". AP News. December 7, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  73. ^ Reece, Maggie (December 9, 2023). "GDF Bell 412 Helicopter Crashes: Five Dead, Two Injured". Guyana Graphic. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  74. ^ Frawley, Gerald. The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003/2004, p. 45. Aerospace Publications, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7.
  75. ^ "Bell Helicopter, January 2006". Archived from the original on October 15, 2012.
  76. ^ 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.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bell 412.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bell_412&oldid=1265557675"