IATA BH2ICAO B212

Bell 212

Bell

TravelerPulse profile

Twin-engine utility helicopter for civil and military roles.

First flight

1969

Category

Utility helicopter

Seating

14 passengers

Range

440 km

Engines

Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3 Twin Pac (two coupled turboshafts)

Status

In service

The Bell 212 is a twin-engine, medium utility helicopter developed by Bell Helicopter as a successor to the single-engine Bell 205. It was developed in partnership with Pratt & Whitney Canada and first flew in 1969, entering service in 1971. The aircraft was originally produced to meet a Canadian Armed Forces requirement for a twin-engine helicopter and was marketed under the military designation CUH-1N Twin Huey. The Bell 212 features a distinctive twin-pack turboshaft engine arrangement using the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3 Twin Pac, which couples two turboshaft engines to a single transmission. This configuration improved safety and reliability over single-engine predecessors, making it popular for offshore oil and gas operations, search and rescue, and utility roles. The helicopter has been widely adopted by military forces, civil operators, and government agencies worldwide. It spawned the Bell 412, a variant featuring a four-blade composite rotor. Production continued for several decades, and the type remains in widespread service globally.

Notable operators

Operated by numerous military forces including the U.S. Air Force and Navy (UH-1N), as well as civil operators in offshore oil and gas, including Bristow Group and PHI Inc.

Notable facts

›Developed jointly by Bell Helicopter and Pratt & Whitney Canada to meet Canadian Armed Forces requirements.
›Uses the PT6T-3 Twin Pac, coupling two turboshaft engines to a single gearbox for improved reliability.
›Military version designated UH-1N by the U.S. military.
›Served as the basis for the Bell 412, which introduced a four-blade composite main rotor.
›Widely used in offshore oil and gas operations, search and rescue, and utility transport roles worldwide.