Development of the 412 began with the conversion of two 212s in the latter half of the 1970s. The main rotor was given four blades instead of two and the diameter was reduced. The first prototype flew in August 1979, with production starting the same year and the aircraft entering service in 1981. Several improved versions have been made since then, the most recent of which (the 412EP) has a dual digital automatic flight control system. Over 850 have been built so far, and production is ongoing. The 412 was developed into the Canadian CH-146 Griffon military transport in the early 1990s.
|} The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212 with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.
Development of the 412 began with the conversion of two 212s in the latter half of the 1970s. The main rotor was given four blades instead of two and the diameter was reduced. The first prototype flew in August 1979, with production starting the same year and the aircraft entering service in 1981. Several improved versions have been made since then, the most recent of which (the 412EP) has a dual digital automatic flight control system. Over 850 have been built so far, and production is ongoing. The 412 was developed into the Canadian CH-146 Griffon military transport in the early 1990s.
|} The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212 with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.
