Bell 214ST explained

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.

Design and development

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.[1] The fundamental difference was the replacement of the Model 214's single Lycoming LTC-4 turboshaft engine with two 1625shp 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,[2] [3] Testing was successful, and Bell decided to press forward with a definitive twin-engine Bell 214ST, with a fuselage stretched by 30inches 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.[4]

Work started on three conforming prototypes in 1978.[5] 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.[1] [6] [7]

The first of the three full 214ST prototypes flew on 21 July 1979.[7] Manufacturing of production 214STs began in 1981. Type certification from the FAA and CAA for visual and instrument flight rules was awarded in 1982.[8] The military variant followed into production with helicopter deliveries commencing in 1982.[2]

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, and two 1625shp GE CT7-2A engines.[9] 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.[1] 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.[10]

The Model 214ST was the largest helicopter that had been built by Bell at that time (since surpassed by the Bell 525 Relentless)[11] The ST was originally an acronym for "Stretched Twin", but was later changed to "Super Transporter".[12] [9] Bell built a total of 96 214STs with production ending in 1993.[13]

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

Operators

Military operators

Civil operators

Former operators

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Aircraft on display

United States

References

Notes and References

  1. Apostolo, Giorgio. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters, p. 54. New York: Bonanza Books, 1984. .
  2. Green, William, Observers Aircraft, p. 228. Frederick Warne Publishing, 1991. .
  3. Air International October 1982, p. 165.
  4. Air International October 1982, pp. 165–166.
  5. Donald, David, ed. "Bell Model 214ST". The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Barnes & Nobel Books, 1997. .
  6. Lambert Flight International 30 June 1979, p. 2345.
  7. Air International October 1982, p. 166.
  8. Pelletier, Alain J. Bell Aircraft Since 1935. US Naval Institute Press, 1992. .
  9. Green, William. Observers Aircraft, p. 224. Frederick Warne Publishing, 1987. .
  10. Lambert, M. "Bell 214ST". Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1990-91. Jane's Information Group, 1990. . (subscription article)
  11. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2012-02-12/relentless-525-be-largest-bell-helicopter 'Relentless' 525 To Be Largest Bell Helicopter
  12. Frawley, Gerard. The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004, p. 44. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. .
  13. http://search.janes.com/Search/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/binder/jhms/jhms4992.htm@current&pageSelected=allJanes&keyword=Bell%20214ST&backPath=http://search.janes.com/Search&Prod_Name=JHMS& "Bell 214ST Supertransport" (subscription article)
  14. Timmerman, Kenneth R. The Death Lobby: How the West Armed Iraq. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1991.
  15. Web site: World Air Forces 2013 . Flightglobal Insight . 2013 . 19 February 2013.
  16. Web site: Fuerza Aerea del Peru Bell 214ST . 17 February 2013.
  17. Web site: HTS Aircraft . htshelicopters.com . 17 February 2013.
  18. Web site: Blackwater Worldwide (Xe Corp) . bingo.com.pk . 17 February 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091109183750/http://www.bingo.com.pk/blogs/blackwater-worldwide-xe-corp.html . November 9, 2009 .
  19. Web site: Evergreen Helicopters Fleet . Evergreen International Aviation . September 2009 . 2009-09-29 . 2009-09-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090910032608/http://www.evergreenaviation.com/ehi/fleet.html . dead .
  20. Web site: 災害対策用ヘリコプター「あおぞら号」 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170822133433/http://www.ktr.mlit.go.jp/bousai/bousai00000007.html . 2017-08-22 . dead .
  21. Web site: CHC Helikopter Service AS Bell 214ST . nordicrotors.com . 17 February 2013.
  22. Web site: Rebuilding Iraqi air force will take time . stripes.com . 17 February 2013.
  23. Web site: Bell 214ST Iraqi Air Force . Demand media . 17 February 2013.
  24. Web site: Thai Navy Bell 214ST. jetphotos.net. 17 February 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131101203205/http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6462642&nseq=3. 2013-11-01. dead.
  25. Web site: The last Bell 214ST helicopter - Page 7 . bristowgroup.com . 17 February 2013.
  26. Web site: Bell 214ST G-BKFN . flightglobal.com . 17 February 2013.
  27. Web site: fuerza aerea de venezuela Bell 214ST . 17 February 2013.
  28. http://flyingleathernecks.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Aircraft_Listing.pdf "F3D Skyknight/124630."

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