History

This aircraft is descending via the Bell 212 from the well-known Bell UH-I.
This twin-engined version was developed in co-operation with Pratt & Whitney Canada as a result of a request of the Canadian Government.
This request was followed by an order for 50 examples of Bell model 212, which received the Canadian designation CUH-1N and were delivered in 1971 and 1972. later the designation was changed in CH-1235. Later further orders were received from the USAF, US Navy and the US MC.

Also a commercial civil variant was developed, known as the Bell Twin Two Twelve.

The Bell 412 is a variant of this 212, but equipped with four rotor blades.
Development start by the end of the seventies. The rotor had a smaller diameter. The prototype made its maiden flight in august 1979.
A variant was the Bell 412SP (Special Performance) with an enlarged fuel capacity and a higher take-off weight.
The Bell 412HP (High Performance) was a variant of the 412Sp with an improved transmission.
The Bell 412EP (Enhanced Performance) is equipped with a double automatic, digital flight control system.

Bell built over 700 examples and over 260 examples were license built by Agusta-Westland, Italy.

An overview of the variants:

Since 1994 the RNLAF uses three Agusta-Bell AB-412SP for SAR-purposes based at no 303 squadron, air base Leeuwarden. These aircraft replaced the outdated Alouette III of the SAR flight. This type has been used for over 25 years.
The Bell 412 was used for search and rescue purposes, mainly above sea.
They are also used for transport of patients from the Wadden islands.
The aircraft are overall yellow and soon were nicknamed 'Tweety'.

The aircraft are all equipped with inflatable floats, mounted on the ski-undercarriage, a winch and the 'night sun' searchlight, which can be mounted under the nose, which contains a weather radar.

Agusta-Bell AB-412SP R-01 at the Open Day Dutch Air Force, juli 1995 at airbase Volkel.
Note the original (high) skids and float system.

Initially the helicopters were equipped with a higher type of skids, with a inflatable triple float system on each side. This construction happened to cause problems with the hoist and was soon replaced with a standard skid with an single part inflatable float at each side.

Agusta-Bell AB-412SP R-03 at the Open Day Dutch Air Force, July 1998 at airbase Leeuwarden. Note the new skids and float system00.
The nose houses also a weather radar.

Usually one aircraft is on stand-by at the Vliehors range.

For civilian rescues the aircraft is used on average a 150 times per year, usually in close cooperation with the KNRM.

Agusta-Bell AB-412SP R-02 at the Open Day Dutch Air Force, June 2004 at airbase Volkel. Note the mounted search light under the nose.

Agusta-Bell AB-412SP R-01 at the Open Day Dutch Air Force, June 2008 at airbase Leeuwarden.

Agusta-Bell AB-412SP R-01 at the Open Day Dutch Air Force, June 2008 at airbase Leeuwarden.

January 1, 2015 all three aircraft were withdrawn from use. Their military tasks are taken over by the NH-90. The flight to the Wadden Isles are now being done by a civil company.

A walk-around of the Dutch  AB-412SP can be found at IPMS.nl.

Agusta-Bell AB-412SP

1/72nd Scale

Kits

• Italeri
  • Kit 084: At the website of IPMS Netherlands a review.
    • See also for building an AB-412 model,described by M. De Vreeze
      • 
        Building the Italeri kit No.1343: 1/72nd Bell AB-212/ UH-1N.
  • Revell
    • Kit 04461: At the website of IPMS Netherlands you can find a review.
    • Set 04654 is an AB212/UH-1N, but the kit contains the parts of the AB-412.
      • 
        Bouw van de Revell 1/72 Bell UH-1N (AB 212

   

  

  A model of a Dutch Agusta-Bell 412SP, built by Adri Kleijn.

   

  Modelling add-on

  • Eduard
    • Set 72-269: Detailing set for the Italeri kit.

  Decals

  • --
    • Set --: --.

  1/48th Scale

  Kits

  • Italeri
    • Kit 2692:A model of the AB-212/UH-1N.

  Modelling add-on

  • Eduard
    • Set 48-235: Detailing set for Italeri kit 2692.
  • Belcher Bits
    • Set xx: CH146 Griffon (AB412) Conversion set (Italeri UH1N, set 2692) also for a Dutch AB412. The set contains a new gearbox, four blade rotor, Seats, Rescue hoist and a cable cutterskit.

  Decals

  • --
    • Set --: --.

   

  
  

  The aircraft have one of the main rotor blades painted overall red for recognition purposes. Later all four blades had red parts applied.

  Later the tail had the base ribbon of air base Leeuwarden applied.

  Scheme		Colour name	FS number	RAL number	Humbrol	XtraColor	Vallejo Model Color	Vallejo Model Air	Revell
  Standard #1	Overall Yellow	Yellow		1023	69	X108	70.915	71.002	-
  		Red		3020	174	X104	70.909	71.003	131
  		Orange		2009	19	-	-	-	130
  		Blue		5017	-	X318	-	-	-
  		White		9016	130	X141	70.916	-	-
  		Black		9017	-	X104	70.951	71.001	-

   

  Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

  

  The delivery scheme of the Agusta-Bell AB-412SP.
  Till 1998 the units were equipped with high skids, but due to problems with the hoist these were replaced by a standard skid and another float system.
  

  Second scheme: the Frisian flag has been added tot the tail and also the main rotor has red panels applied.
  

  The last version: the left front door window has been replaced with a stowage for a inflatable life boat.

   

  
  

  Literature.

  Camouflage en Kentekens	J.Greuter e.a.		1997	Uitgeverij Bonneville; Bergen
  Koninklijke Luchtmacht; Vliegtuig- en registratieoverzicht 1945 - 2005	Coen van de Heuvel	pag. 29	2004	Flash aviation, Eindhoven
  Luchtvaart; 11e jaargang nummer 9: SAR-vlucht nieuw stijl		Herman Sixma & Theo van Geffen	pag. 315 - 318	Uitgeverij Ten Brink, Meppel

   

  Websites.

  • Wikipedia UK: UH-1
  • Wikipedia UK: BEll 412
  • Airliners.Net
  • Helis.com
  • Warbirds.BE
  • Veteranen.info
  • SAR 303 squadron KLu
  • Aerospace Technology
  • Luchtmacht.nl
  • Bell helicopters