Eagle Copters (Booth B3640) delivered its 16th Eagle Single Bell 212 conversion Wednesday. Las Vegas-based Savage Aviation accepted the aircraft at Heli-Expo.
The Eagle Single modification program replaces the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 Twinpac engines on the Bell 212 with a single 1,130-shp Ozark Aeroworks T5317A or -B engine. Ozark recently acquired the type certificate for the T53 from Honeywell. According to Eagle Copters, the conversion results in a medium helicopter with a 5,900-pound empty weight and reduced operating costs. Its useful load is 5,210 pounds and seating is limited to nine passengers with single-pilot operations. The conversion also includes upgraded instrument and fuel panels and a new collective head design. The aircraft won certification in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Chile, Peru, Indonesia, and Japan.
Bell produced the 212 for commercial operators between 1971 and 1998. Military versions of the aircraft are designated UH-1N. The aircraft was later developed into the Bell 412, which remains in production.