Bell Model 412

Twin-Engine Utility / Transport Helicopter [ 1981 ]

Bell has produced hundreds of its Model 412 twin-engine utility helicopters for various air services of the world.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/21/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image from the United States department of defense DVIDS imagery network.

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in 1968, Bell Helicopter introduced the Bell Model 212 as a twin-engine variant of its Model 204/205 series. The new model became a notable commercial success for the company. In 1981, the line was evolved to produce the Bell 412 which retained the twin-engine configuration but brought about support for a four-bladed main rotor. The type went on to see widespread adoption by civilian and military forces of the world and over 870 have been produced since. The Canadian CH-146 Griffon (detailed elsewhere on this site) is an offshoot of the Bell 412 line.

In the mid-1970s, Bell Helicopter realized the market need for a modernized version of its critical Model 212 product. This spurred the company to revisit the Model 212 and explore various aspects of its design to help improve its performance - namely range and straight-line speed. It was decided to mate a new four-bladed main rotor to the existing twin-engine design. The rotor used composite construction and was of a smaller diameter which both improved function of the spinning blades when compared to the earlier two-bladed main rotor unit. With this major change in place, a prototype Model 412 was first-flown during August of 1979. Market introduction then followed in 1981 and production has since spanned from 1979 to today (2017). In 1989, the line was moved to Canada where manufactured has continued.

The original model was simply known as the Bell 412 and this version carried 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3B turboshaft engines driving the rotor blades. The Bell 212SP followed as a "special performance" model with PT6T-3BF engines instead. A higher-performance variant became the Bell 412HP with its PT6T-3BG or PT6T-3D engines.

The Bell 412 EP was an enhanced performance form powered by 2 x PT6T-3DF engines, providing a maximum speed of 160 miles per hour, a cruising speed around 140 mph, a range out to 610 miles and a service ceiling of 20,000 feet. Rate-of-climb became 1,350 feet-per-minute.

In the Bell 412EPI, an all-glass cockpit was introduced along with electronically-controlled engines (PT6T-9 series). The Bell 412CF became the basis for the aforementioned Canadian CH-146 and this was based on the Bell 412EP model. Its flight training form was the HT1 and the Search and Rescue (SAR) platform became the HAR2.

In Italy, Agusta took on license-production of the Bell 412 for the civilian market under the designation of Agusta-Bell AB412. The EP-model was the AB412EP. The military transport derivative became the AB412 "Grifone" and a special ground radar-equipped model was the AB412 CRESO. Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) produced the Model 412 as the NBell 412. An little-known unlicensed Iranian-build version of the Model 412 is the Panha 412EP, debuting in 2016.

The Bell Model 412 has proven a popular mount across the world with operators from Algeria and Argentina to Venezuela and Zimbabwe. Beyond its stated military and civilian market value, the helicopter has proven equally-successful as a governmental-level VIP/staff transport for many nations as well. Some police and fire-fighting services make use of the type - such is its versatility.©MilitaryFactory.com

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July 2018 - The Model 412EPX was unveiled by Bell and its joint-venture partner Subaru for the commercial marketplace. The model represents an upgraded form of the Model 412EPI and, itself, forms the basis of the upcoming militarized UH-X helicopter for the Japanese military. Deliveries of the first EPX will be in 2022 with assembly handled at the Bell Mirabel, Canada location.

January 2019 - The Indonesian Defense Ministry has contracted for eight Airbus Helicopters H225M and nine Bell Model 412EPI helicopters to be acquired through Indonesian Aerospace. The deal includes support, training, logistics, and an H225M simulator as well as weapons and ammunition for the Model 412EPI.

April 2020 - The Bell Model 412 helicopter is part of a Norwegian military modernization that includes long-range air defense systems.

May 2021 - Subaru Corporation has delivered its first locally-produced Bell 412EPX example, ordered in 2019, to Iwate Prefecture Police force.

Specifications

Service Year

1981

Origin

United States

Status

ACTIVE
In Active Service.

Crew

2

Production

870
UNITS

Bell Helicopter - USA / Subaru Corporation - Japan

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

National flag of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

National flag of the United Arab Emirates

Algeria; Argentina; Australia; Botswana; Brazil; Cameroon; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Czech Republic; Dominican Republic; El Salvador; Eritrea; Finland; Ghana; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Indonesia; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Lesotho; Mexico; Netherlands; Nigeria; Norway; Pakistan; Panama; Peru; Philippines; Saudi Arabia; Slovenia; South Korea; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Turkey; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; Venezuela; Zimbabwe

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Special-Mission: Search & Rescue (SAR)
Ability to locate and extract personnel from areas of potential harm or peril (i.e. downed airmen in the sea).

✓ Transport
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.

✓ Commercial Aviation
Used in roles serving the commercial aviation market, ferrying both passengers and goods over range.

✓ Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

✓ Special Forces
Serving Special Forces / Special Operations elements and missions.

✓ Training (General)
Developed ability to be used as a dedicated trainer for student pilots (typically under the supervision of an instructor).

Length

56.1 ft
(17.10 m)

Width/Span

45.9 ft
(14.00 m)

Height

15.1 ft
(4.60 m)

Empty Wgt

6,790 lb
(3,080 kg)

MTOW

11,905 lb
(5,400 kg)

Wgt Diff

+5,115 lb
(+2,320 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Bell Model 412 production variant)

Installed: 1 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3D OR PT6T-3DF "Twin-Pac" turboshaft engines developing 1,250 horsepower each and driving a four-bladed main rotor and two-bladed tail rotor.

Max Speed

162 mph
(260 kph | 140 kts)

Ceiling

20,013 ft
(6,100 m | 4 mi)

Range

609 mi
(980 km | 1,815 nm)

Rate-of-Climb

1,350 ft/min
(411 m/min)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Bell Model 412 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

None.

Supported Types

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

Model 412 - Base Series Designationl initial production model; fitted with PT6T-3B engines.

Model 412SP - Special performance model with PT6T-3BF engines.

Model 412HP - High-performance model with PT6T-3BG OR PT6T-3D engines.

Model 412EP - Enhanced performance model with PT6T-3DF engines.

Model 412EPI - Enhanced performance version with modernized, all-glass cockpit and digitally-controlled engines (PT6T-9 series); increased mast torque; increased maximum gross weight; run-dry transmission system.

Model 412CF - Canadian Army transport helicopter based on Model 412EP.

CH-146 Griffon - Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAAF) designation of the Model 412CF.

Griffin HT1 - RCAF training helicopter

Griffin HAR2 - RCAF Search and Rescue (SAR) model.

AB412 - Civilian market transport model by Agusta of Italy.

AB412EP - Enhanced Performance model by Agusta.

AB412 Grifone - Military model by Agusta.

AB412 CRESO - Model with ground search radar fitted by Agusta.

Nbell 412 - Indonesian local-production model by Indonesia Aerospace (IAe).

Panha 412EP - unlicensed Iranian military version of the Model 412EP model.

Bell 412EPX - Civilian market UH-X variant.

General Assessment

Firepower

Performance

Survivability

Versatility

Impact

Values are derrived from a variety of categories related to the design, overall function, and historical influence of this aircraft in aviation history.

Overall Rating

The overall rating takes into account over 60 individual factors related to this aircraft entry.

84

Rating is out of a possible 100 points.

Relative Maximum Speed

Hi: 200mph

Lo: 100mph

This entry's maximum listed speed (162mph).

Graph average of 150 miles-per-hour.

City-to-City Ranges

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Bell Model 412 operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).

Max Altitude Visualization

Design Balance

The three qualities reflected above are altitude, speed, and range.

Aviation Era Span

Showcasing era cross-over of this aircraft design.

Unit Production (870)

870

36183

44000

Compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian).

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Images Gallery

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