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:

CH-146 Griffon:
A (Canadian built) Utility transport helicopter.
Bell Griffin HT1:
Trainer the RAF.
Bell Griffin HAR2:
A SAR-version based upon the Bell 412EP.
Agusta-Bell AB 412:
Built by Agusta-Bell, Italy.
Agusta-Bell AB 412EP:
Built by Agusta-Bell, Italy.
Agusta-Bell AB 412SP:
Built by Agusta-Bell, Italy.
Agusta-Bell AB 412 Grifone:
Built by Agusta-Bell, Italy military transport version.
Agusta-Bell AB 412 CRESO:
Built by Agusta-Bell, Italy, equipped with ground search radar.
NBell 412:
License built IPTN version.

 

Technical Information
Dimensions:
Length with rotor   Rotor diameter: 14 m
Height: 4,6 m Tail Rotor diameter: 2,6 m
Weights:
Empty weight: 2935 kg Full weight: 5400 kg
Performances:
Max. speed: 255 km/hr Cruising speed: 216 km/hr
Range: 650 km Service ceiling:  
Engine type: Two Pratt & Whitney PT6T-3B rated 970 hp each
Crew: Two airmen; one hoist operator; one frog man and one medic.
Passengers Thirteen (sitting) passengers
Equipment Medical equipment: one stretcher, oxygen panel + ventilator, propaq.suction unit. Defibrilator first aid bag, connection capacity incubator.
Communication means: VHF (e.g. for contact with central ambulance station) Navigational aids: VOR, TACAN, ILS; ADF, Doppler, GPS, R-NAV, Weather Radar.
Other equipment: Nightsun searchlight (1600 watts), life raft for 10 people, automatically inflatable floats for emergency landings on water

 


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.

N95 02 10 V2

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.

N98 03 13 V2

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.

N04 02 27

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.

IMG 2009 V2

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

IMG 2019

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

 

   

 

 


Serial Construction-nr. Date in service Date out of service Notes
R-01 25630 04-03-1994 01-01-2015  Sold to Peru
R-02 25638 01-02-1994 01-01-2015  Sold to Peru 
R-03 25641 06-05-1994 01-01-2015  Sold to Peru 

 


1/72nd Scale

Kits

  • Italeri
    • Kit 084: At the website of IPMS Netherlands a review.
    • 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

     

    Agusta Bell AB 412SP AKleijn
    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.

    AgustaBell AB412SP-1-SMALL
    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.
    AgustaBell AB412SP-2-SMALL
    Second scheme: the Frisian flag has been added tot the tail and also the main rotor has red panels applied.
    AgustaBell AB412SP-3-SMALL
    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.