The Bell 214 is a 16-seat medium lift utility helicopter powered by a single Lycoming turboshaft engine. The single,
two-blade rotor gives the helicopter a distinctive whomp-whomp sound that could be heard miles away. The Bell 214 or
Model 214 "Huey Plus" was developed out of the Bell Model 205, or UH-1D. The prototype of the Model 214 flew
first in 1970. The Model 214 went into production as the model 214A with the first production helicopter flying on 13 March
1974. Bell developed a civil derivative of the Model 214A, the Model 214B "BigLifter", with modest changes including
emergency escape windows in the cargo doors,
an civilian avionics, and an engine fire extinguishing system. Next to the role as passenger transport the
"Big Lifter" is used as a "flying crane" with an external cargo hook and as a firefighter. The Model 214B
was certified on 27 January 1976, but production ended already in 1981. |