1970 : Bell 212 Twin-turbine Hueys ( UH-1N )
After the successful of the Models 204 / 205, Bell joined Pratt & Whitney Canada for develop a twin engine derivative, the result was the Model 212 Twin Two Twelve , soon followed by the Model 214 that was a lengthened version (with single and twin engine) of the Bell 205. In 1979 follows the Model 412 with a 4 blades main rotor
1971 :
UTTAS program - Bell 240.
The proposal for the 1971 's US Army UTTAS program
( Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System ) for a new helicopter
to replace the Bell Huey.
Lost the competition against the
Sikorsky UH-60 BlackHawk
Sept. 10, 1971: Bell 309 King Cobra.
Because the US Army 's AAFSS ( Advanced Aerial Fire
Support System ) competition was cancelled ( See
Lockheed Cheyenne
) , Bell designed the model 309 King
Cobra as a company-funded project.
Only 2 units of the KingCobra were built but some of the improvements would be
applied to the following US Marines model: the AH-1T
1972 : Bell 214 Huey Plus / Big Lifter .
A "big 205", Was first developed for the Iranian Armed Forces
1974 :
Bell conmemorates the delivery of it 20000th helicopter
October 1, 1975 : Bell 409 (YAH-63)
Developed from the Model 309, two units were built for the US Army AAH ( Advanced Attack Helicopter ) program.
Lost competition against the Hughes YAH-64
1976 :
New Name :
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
Also this year, the 2000th JetRanger roll out.
>
1978 : Bell 214ST
A 19 place stretched version of the 214 with
twin General Electric CT7 turboshafts developing 1625 shp.
1979 : Bell 412
The four-bladed version of the Bell 212
1979 :
First sale of US helicopters to China, 8 Bell 212s
1980 :
The first trasatlantic LIGHT helicopter crossing is completed ( 5100 miles )
by german pilots Karl Wagner and Warner Roschlau in a LongRanger II
