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Bell 210

Type (Muster)
Medium utility helicopter (mittelschwerer Mehrzweckhubschrauber)

Country (Land)
USA

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Bell Helicopter
PO Box 482
Fort Worth, Texas
USA

Phone: 001-817/280-2011
Fax: 001-817/280-3631
Internet: www.bellhelicopter.textron.com

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 1 - 2
Passengers (Passagiere): 9 normal, 13 in high-density seating

Power plant (Antrieb): Honeywell T5317BCV
Power (Leistung): 1342 kW (1800 shp) for take-off and 1120 kW (1500 shp) maximum continuous.
Transmission rated at 962 kW (1290 shp) for 5 minutes and 846 kW (1134 shp) continuous
Fuel consumption (Kraftstoffverbrauch). 271 kg/h at cruise setting

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Fuselage length (Rumpflänge): 13,13 m
Length, rotor turning (Länge über drehende Rotoren): 17,43 m
Height over turning tail rotor (Höhe über Heckrotor): 4,46 m

Weights (Massen)
Standard empty weight (Leermasse): 2480 kg
Useful load (Zuladung): 2284 kg
Max. external load (max. Außenlast): 2268 kg
Fuel (Kraftstoff): 780 litres (206,1 US gallons)
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 4763 kg or 5080 kg with external load

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Never-exceed speed (höchstzulässige Geschwindigkeit): 241 km/h at sea level, ISA, at low weights, 194 km/h at 4760 kg weight
Max. continuous cruise (max. Reisegeschwindigkeit) : 189 km/h at 4763 kg or 233 km/h at 3865 kg
Service ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 5090 m (16700 ft)
Hover ceiling (Schwebeflughöhe):
    - 488 m OGE at 4763 kg, ISA + 20 deg C
    - 1615 m OGE (out of ground effect) at 4763 kg or 4600 m at 3856 kg, ISA
    - 4023 m IGE at 4763 kg or 5913 m at 3856 kg, ISA conditions
Range (Reichweite): 416 km at long-range cruise
Endurance (Flugdauer): 2,5 hours maximum (loiter at 70 knots, no reserve)

Costs (Kosten)
Cost of the Bell 210 will be approximately $3 million, the company said in March 2004. A comparable Huey-sized off the shelf commercial aircraft would cost approximately $5 million, it was claimed.
The 2006 direct operating cost estimate from Bell for the 210 stood at 659,26 US-Dollars, with fuel costs at 2,25 US-Dollars a gallon. After certification in July 2005, Bell said that the 210 will operate for less than 650 US-Dollars per hour. Earlier, the DOC was put at about 550 US-Dollars an hour (December 2004). In March 2004, Bell had put the DOC at about $530 an hour.

Customers (Kunden)
Some orders were received at Heli-Expo in March 2004, though no details are available.

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The Bell 210 builds on Bell's Huey 2 concept, but provides a fully FAA certified helicopter. Design goals included an 11-percent increase in internal maximum gross weight over the UH-1H, an 18-percent boost in external max gross weight and a 40-percent decrease in directing operating costs (530 US-Dollars an hour as compared with 880 Dollars an hour, it was claimed at one time).
The Bell 210 build process starts with a refurbished UH-1H fuselage. Bell Helicopter then adds dynamic components from the Bell 212 (main rotor hub and blades, tail rotor, main and tail rotor support structure, transmission, rotating controls, and tail boom), and an FAA certified Honeywell T53-517BCV engine providing a zero-time FAA certified single engine medium utility helicopter.
Re-manufacturing an UH-1H to the 210 configuration requires 3-5 months.

History (Geschichte)
The Bell 210 was announced by Chief Executive Officer Mike Redenbaugh at a press conference on 14 March 2004 during Heli-Expo 2004 at Las Vegas. In making the announcement Mr. Redenbaugh said, “The Bell 210 is the perfect solution for the many agencies that use the UH-1H in utility, Homeland Security law enforcement or firefighting capacities. It combines great performance with an existing logistical base, an unbeatable DOC and a tremendously low initial acquisition cost.” Plans called for certification to be complete in mid 2005.
The Bell 210 was also aimed at the U.S. Army, which in the autumn of 2004 was seeking a new Light Utility Helicopter (LUH).
In October 2004, Bell said that work on the first Bell 210 prototype (a/c #01 s/n 21001), was on schedule at its subsidiary, Edwards & Associates. Controls Proof Load Testing was planned for November with first flight to follow in December. FAA type Certification was now anticipated in January and Bell planned to have the 210 make its debut at the 2005 HeliExpo in February.
The Bell 210 made it's first flight Saturday, December 18, 2004, at the Bell subsidiary Edwards & Associates, located in Bristol, Tenn. At that time Bell expected to attain FAA certification in the first quarter of 2005, with deliveries following soon after. At the Heli-Expo 2005 at Anaheim in early February 2005, FAA certification was set for March 2005.
In fact, the 210 medium transport helicopter received its FAA Certification on 21 July 2005. It was then said that first customer deliveries should begin in November 2005.
In the autumn of 2005, Bell decided not to use the 210 as its contender for the US Army LUH competition, but to offer an 412EP derivative instead.
In February 2006, Bell said that the 210 has now performed around 165 flight test hours and that first deliveries should occur in May.

Civil | Military | Helicopters | History | Spaceflight

Last updated 23 March 2006

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