Steve's Airshow World - Aircraft Factfile and Recognition Guide

Aircraft Factfile and Recognition Guide - CH-146 Griffon

Background

The Bell Helicopter Textron CH-146 Griffon is the Canadian military variant of the Bell 412EP, a multi-use utility helicopter. It is essentially an extensively updated version of the famed UH-1 Huey, with a four-bladed composite rotor, twin engines (a Twin-Pac), and a number of advanced control systems to ease pilot workload and smooth the ride. Like the UH-1, the CH-146 is used in a wide variety of roles, including aerial firepower, reconnaissance and aero-mobility tasks. In 2007, the CH-146 is also one of the four aircraft taught to medical personnel in the Canadian Aeromedical Evacuation school.

The Griffin is built at Mirabel, Quebec, at the Bell Canadian plant. They are delivered in one of two configurations, the Combat Support Squadron (CSS) version for search and rescue missions, and the Utility Tactical Transport Helicopter (UTTH), which carries a crew of three and an eight-man section.

The Canadian Forces have purchased 100 airframes in total; 89 are serving in Tactical Helicopter Squadrons in Edmonton, Alberta; Toronto and Petawawa, Ontario; Valcartier, Quebec; and Gagetown, New Brunswick. The rest of the aircraft are being used in search-and-rescue roles at fighter Combat Support Squadrons in Cold Lake, Alberta; and Bagotville, Quebec; as well as reserve air force units including 400 Squadron at CFB Borden, and 438 Squadron in St-Hubert, Quebec.

One interesting feature of the Griffon is a small camera mounted in the nose of the aircraft pointed up at the rotor. By observing a small yellow paint stripe on the rotor, the autopilot can detect the classic "hoola-hoop" motion and correct it, smoothing the ride.

Recognizing the CH-146 Griffon

The Griffon is a very recognizable helicopter, since it is derived from the Bell 412 (the Bell 212 is the Huey), but can be very easily confused with the Huey. Here's how you can identify a Griffon:

Wings: Large, four-blade main rotor on hump at top rear of cabin.
Engines: Two turboshafts with a combining gear box. Air intakes in front of engine.
Fuselage: Long and oval with rounded nose. Stepped-up cockpit and tapered rear section. Swell in center of cabin. Fixed-skid landing gear.
Tail: Boom tapers to swept-back, tapered fin with rotor on the right. Rectangular flats mounted on the boom forward of the fin.

Specifications

Length: 17.1 m
Rotorspan: 14 m
Height: 4.6 m
Weight: 5,355 kg
Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3D engine
Speed: 220 km/h (cruise) up to 260 km/h (maximum speed)
Range: 656 km (with full tanks)
Armament: 7.62 mm C6 door guns
Passengers: 12 + 3 crew
Crew: Two pilots, one flight engineer
Litter capacity: 6 stretchers

Sources: Wikipedia CH-146 Griffon