Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Medium-lift utility helicopter

Power Plant:

One 1,290 kw (1,745 shp) Pratt & Whitney PT6T-3B Twin-Pac coupled turboshaft

Specifications:

History:

The Bell Model 212, known as the Twin Two-twelve, was developed from, and based on, the Model 205 Iroquois. The two helicopters appeared similar, but the Model 212 was fitted with twin-engines, two Canadian Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboshafts paired in a Twin-Pac arrangement to drive a common gearbox. This model was also developed for military use, being purchased by the Canadian armed services as the CH-135, and by the US Army, Navy and Marine Corps as the UH-1N. Subsequently it was purchased by the USAF.

In 1970 a commercial version was certificated, receiving approval in Transport Type Category A in June 1971. This model, the 212, was basically similar to the military model, but could carry a load of 2,268 kg (5,000 lb) externally compared to the external load of the UH-1N of 1,814 kg (4,000 lb).

The type was immediately successful in the off-shore oil exploration market, where the twin-engine arrangement was usually demanded to give a better safety margin over the single-engine Model 205. In this role the Model 212 could seat a maximum of 14 passengers, plus the pilot, or carry 6.23 m³ (220 cub ft) of cargo internally. It could maintain cruise performance on one engine at maximum gross weight.

In January 1973 Bell announced an IFR version, which had a new avionics system, full blind-flying instrumentation, and an automatic stability augmentation system. Generally this model has been operated on oil-rig work.

The PT6T power plant (also known as the T-400) was developed specifically for this aircraft, jointly financed by Bell, the Canadian Government, and Pratt & Whitney Aircraft of Canada. The 212 was also built under licence in Italy by Agusta, with the first deliveries being made in late 1971. These machines were generally similar to the American-built aircraft.

Agusta developed an anti-submarine variant designated AB-212ASW, fitted with the up-rated PT6T-6 Twin-Pac producing 1,399 kw (1,875 shp), and deliveries to the Italian Navy commenced in 1976. In August 1988 production of the series was transferred to Bell’s production facility in Canada. In Canadian Armed Forces service it has been known as the CUH-1N.

The Model 212 has appeared on the Australian and New Zealand Civil Aircraft Registers. Fitted out for oil-rig work, these machines generally were fitted out with seating for conveying crews to the offshore rigs. A number operated for some time from Longford, VIC, from the Esso-BHP facility, alongside several Bell 205s and Sikorsky S-76s. Helicopters (NZ) Ltd operated the type, and a small number remain registered. Examples have been taken for work in the Antarctic, VH-BEL being conveyed by the Italian ship ‘Italica‘ in 1994. Others have been used for fire-bombing. Operators have included Bristow Helicopters, Helicopters (NZ) Ltd, HeviLift, National Safety Council of Australia (NSCA), Esso-BHP, etc.

Examples have regularly visited Australia during the fire season, particulary Canadian registered aircraft. Australian machines have included VH-JJY² (c/n 30900 – ex C-FWOR, N652LH, JA9536) registered on 14 November 2008; VH-NNN³ (c/n 30833 – ex 30833 [South Korean Air Force], N16746) on 31 October 2011; and VH-JJR² (c/n 31280 – ex C-FTZW, HS-RCD, 31280 [Royal Thai Army], N3212D) registered on 29 August 2008.

In September 2017 two examples were registered to MKR Choppers of Bombira, NSW, both being ex-Royal Brunei Air Force machines, becoming VH-NBN5 (c/n 31234) and VH-NVN² (c/n 30906).