The Bell R-12 (later redesignated H-12; company Model 48) was an American 1940s military utility helicopter built by the

Bell Helicopter Bell Textron Inc. is an American aerospace manufacturer headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. A subsidiary of Textron, Bell manufactures military rotorcraft at facilities in Fort Worth, and Amarillo, Texas, as well as commercial helicopters in M ...

company.

Design and development

During 1946, Bell Helicopter began development of a new utility helicopter, the Model 42, much larger than the Model 47, which utilized a scaled-up version of the Model 47's rotor system. Three prototypes were built, but serious rotor problems and complexity of mechanical systems precluded production. The initial Model 42 variant was civilian, but the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...

ordered the development of its military variant, the Model 48. Two prototypes were ordered as the XR-12, powered by a single Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1

radial engine The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders "radiate" outward from a central crankcase like the spokes of a wheel. It resembles a stylized star when viewed from the front, and is ...

and featuring seating for five. Of very similar construction to the Model 42, the Model 48 had a shorter rotor mast. A production batch of 34 helicopters was ordered, under the designation R-12A, but cancelled in 1947. Another enlarged prototype (the XR-12B, Model 48A) with seats for eight plus two pilots and a more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-1340-55 engine was also ordered, followed by ten pre-series YR-12B helicopters, with a glazed nose, instead of the car-like nose of the Model 42 and XR-12. While under flight test the helicopter was redesignated the H-12, but the results were not satisfactory, as there were major problems with the main rotor due to blade weaving and poor rotor governor performance.

Operational history

No production H-12 aircraft were built but the prototypes and preproduction aircraft were used for various test and development programs.

Variants

;Model 42 :Bell's initial foray into the civilian luxury helicopter market, seating five. Three prototypes were built but serious problems precluded production. ;Model 48 :Company designation for the military version of the Model 42, given the designation R-12. Two built as XR-12s and a production contract for 34 was cancelled in 1947. ;Model 48A :The more powerful derivative of the Model 48 with a 600 hp engine and ten seats. One XR-12B/XH-12B prototype was produced and a preproduction batch of ten were also built as YR-12B/YH-12Bs ;XR-12 :Prototype, redesignated XH-12, two built. ;R-12A :Production version, 34 on order canceled. ;XR-12B :Prototype with more powerful engine and increased seating, redesignated XH-12B, one built. ;YR-12B :As XR-12B but with R-1340-55 engines, redesignated YH-12B, ten built. ;XH-12 :XR-12 redesignated in 1947. ;XH-12B :XR-12B redesignated in 1947. ;YH-12B :YR-12B redesignated in 1947.

Operators

; *

Specifications (XR-12B)

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * Andrade, John M. ''U.S.Military Aircraft Designation and Serials since 1909''. Leicester, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. . * ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985)''. London, Orbis Publishing, 1985. * Pelletier, A.J. ''Bell Aircraft since 1935.'' London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1992. .

External links

Copter Ferry Hops To The Front
– ''Popular Science'' (December 1950) {{USAF helicopters H-012 1940s United States military utility aircraft 1940s United States helicopters Single-engined piston helicopters Aircraft first flown in 1946