Bell 214ST

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Bell 214ST
Bristow - Bell 214ST SuperTransport.jpg
A Bristow Bell 214ST over Aberdeen, Scotland
General information
TypeMedium-lift helicopter
National originUnited States
Manufacturer Bell Helicopter
StatusProduction completed
Primary users Peruvian Air Force
Number built96 [1]
History
Manufactured1979-1993 [1]
Introduction date1982
First flightFebruary 1977
Developed from Bell 214

The Bell 214ST is a medium-lift, twin-engine helicopter descended from Bell Helicopter's ubiquitous UH-1 Huey series. Though it shares a type number with the somewhat-related Bell 214, the 214ST is larger and of quite different appearance.

Contents

Design and development

Comparison between a 214 and larger 214ST Bell 214 and 214ST side-view silhouettes.png
Comparison between a 214 and larger 214ST

The Bell 214ST was originally developed as a military project from the Bell 214B BigLifter, specifically for production in Iran and the development by Bell was funded by the Iranian government. [2] The fundamental difference was the replacement of the Model 214's single Lycoming LTC-4 turboshaft engine with two 1,625 shp (1,212 kW) General Electric T700 engines, to improve the helicopter's hot and high performance and improve safety. An interim twin-engine conversion of a Model 214 flew on 15 February 1977 in Texas, [3] [4] Testing was successful, and Bell decided to press forward with a definitive twin-engine Bell 214ST, with a fuselage stretched by 30 in (76 cm) and a revised main rotor of greater diameter. Iran changed its production plans, with 50 Bell 214A and 350 214STs to be built at the new production plant to be set up at Isfahan, Iran. [5]

Work started on three conforming prototypes in 1978. [6] The overthrow of the Shah in 1979 resulted in the cancellation of Iran's orders. By this time the new helicopter had attracted sufficient interest from other potential customers for Bell to continue with the project and build the 214ST at their Dallas-Fort Worth facility instead. As a result, it was launched as a civil helicopter, rather than a military one. [2] [7] [8]

A Bell 214ST of Helicopter Transport Services Bell214STSuperTransporterN724HT.JPG
A Bell 214ST of Helicopter Transport Services

The first of the three full 214ST prototypes flew on 21 July 1979. [8] Manufacturing of production 214STs began in 1981. Type certification from the FAA and CAA for visual and instrument flight rules was awarded in 1982. [9] The military variant followed into production with helicopter deliveries commencing in 1982. [3]

The Bell 214ST included major design changes from the Bell 214. The Bell 214ST has a larger, stretched fuselage with seating for 16-18 passengers, [10] [11] and two 1,625 shp (1,212 kW) GE CT7-2A engines. [12] The helicopter introduced some ground-breaking innovations for Bell, including a one-hour run-dry transmission, fiberglass rotor blades, elastomeric rotorhead bearings, and the option of either skid or wheeled landing gear. [2] The helicopter has a cockpit door and a large cabin door on each side. The 214ST has a fuel capacity of 435 US gallons (1,650 L). An auxiliary fuel system could be added. [11]

The Model 214ST was the largest helicopter that had been built by Bell at that time [10] (since surpassed by the Bell 525 Relentless) [13] The ST was originally an acronym for "Stretched Twin", but was later changed to "Super Transporter". [10] [12] Bell built a total of 96 214STs with production ending in 1993. [1]

The military operators included Iraq (48), [14] Brunei (1), Peru (11), Thailand (9) and Venezuela (4).

Operators

Military operators

Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei
An Iraqi Air Force Bell 214ST Iraqi Model 214ST SuperTransport helicopter, 1991.JPEG
An Iraqi Air Force Bell 214ST
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru

Civil operators

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
A British Caledonian Helicopters Bell 214ST British Caledonian Helicopters Bell 214ST.jpg
A British Caledonian Helicopters Bell 214ST

Former operators

Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
Flag of Iraq (1963-1991).svg  Ba'athist Iraq / Flag of Iraq (1991-2004).svg  Republic of Iraq
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom

Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela

Aircraft on display

United States

Specifications (214ST)

Bell 214ST orthographical image.svg

Data from International Directory of Civil Aircraft, [10] Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft [6]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related Research Articles

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 Apostolo, Giorgio. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters, p. 54. New York: Bonanza Books, 1984. ISBN   0-517-43935-2.
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  13. 'Relentless' 525 To Be Largest Bell Helicopter
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