Bell CH-146 Griffon
Bell Helicopter · Canada · first flew 1992 · helicopter
The Bell CH-146 Griffon is a multi-role utility helicopter built as a variant of the Bell 412EP for the Canadian Armed Forces.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 17.09 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single main rotor of about 14 m diameter with a tail rotor
- Bell 412EP airframe in Canadian military use
- Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3D Twin-Pac coupled turboshaft
It is a Bell 412 family helicopter in Canadian military markings, with a single main rotor and a tail rotor. Cruising speed is about 220 km/h.
Specifications
- The Bell CH-146 Griffon has a length of 17.09 m (56 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.02 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 259 km/h (161 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Canada ordered the CH-146, a Bell 412CF, in 1992 and received 100 in 1995-1997. It replaced the CH-118, CH-135 and CH-136 and early CH-147 Chinooks.
Variants
The Griffon is itself the Canadian version of the Bell 412EP. Its fleet is being modernised for service into the 2030s.
Where you'll see it
It is used for tactical transport, reconnaissance, search and rescue, and aerial firepower, and has served overseas as well as in Canada. The crew is three, and it carries up to ten troops or six stretchers.
Related aircraft
- Bell 230
- Bell 430
- Bell 427
- Bell AH-1Z Viper
- Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow
- HAL Dhruv
- HAL Dhruv Mk.1
- MD Explorer
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