Specifications

Year: 1981
Status: Active, In-Service
Manufacturer(s): Bell Helicopter - USA
Production: 870
Capabilities: Transport; Commercial Market; Search and Rescue (SAR); Reconnaissance (RECCE); Special
Forces; Training; Crew: 2
Length: 56.10 ft (17.1 m)
Width: 45.93 ft (14 m)
Height: 15.09 ft (4.6 m)
Weight (Empty): 6,790 lb (3,080 kg)
Weight (MTOW): 11,905 lb (5,400 kg) Power: 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. Speed: 162 mph (260 kph; 140 kts)
Ceiling: 20,013 feet (6,100 m; 3.79 miles)
Range: 609 miles (980 km; 529 nm)
Rate-of-Climb: 1,350 ft/min (411 m/min)
Operators: 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 National flag of Algeria National flag of Argentina
National flag of Australia National flag of Botswana National flag of Brazil National flag of Cameroon
National flag of Canada National flag of Chile National flag of China National flag of Colombia
National flag of Czech Republic National flag of Dominican Republic National flag of El Salvador
National flag of Eritrea National flag of Finland National flag of Ghana National flag of Guatemala
National flag of Guyana National flag of Honduras National flag of Indonesia National flag of Italy
National flag of Jamaica National flag of Japan National flag of Lesotho National flag of Mexico
National flag of Netherlands National flag of Nigeria National flag of Norway National flag of Pakistan
National flag of Panama National flag of Peru National flag of Philippines National flag of Saudi Arabia
National flag of Slovenia National flag of South Korea National flag of Sri Lanka National flag of
Thailand National flag of Turkey National flag of United Arab Emirates National flag of United
Kingdom National flag of Venezuela National flag of Zimbabwe 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. Program Updates

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.