Bell Helicopter has taken its Bell 412EPI on a demonstration tour throughout Nepal.
The Bell 412EPI demonstrated landing and take offs from 15,200 feet, ground effect hover at nearly 18,000 feet density altitude and then flew up to 20,000 feet pressure altitude near Mount Everest. Bell Helicopter pilots also demonstrated the performance of Bell 412EPI in the Annapurna Ranges around Jomsom Airfield in Western Nepal. Last year, the Bell 407GXP embarked on a similar demo tour in the area.
“I’m proud to say another Bell Helicopter product has demonstrated its heightened capability and customer-driven enhancements during a demo tour throughout Nepal,” said Sameer A. Rehman, managing director, Asia Pacific. “The Bell 412EPI received praise for its smooth ride, maneuverability and increased performance in high altitudes proving that our products are built to perform in the highest terrain on the planet.”
Introduced in March 2013, the Bell 412EPI is an upgrade to the Bell 412EP platform with the Bell BasiX Pro fully integrated glass flight deck, providing critical flight information at a glance for greater situational awareness and safety. The avionics suite also includes high resolution digital maps, electronic charts and approach plates, ADS-B transponder and optional HTAWS and XM satellite links. The new Bell 412EPI also incorporates Pratt & Whitney’s PT6T-9 Twin Pac engines, providing 15 percent more horsepower than the standard Bell 412. The Bell 412EPI features the BLR Strake and FastFin system, which modifies the tail boom to optimize airflow and improve handling, safety and lift.