BELL AIRCRAFT

Designs D-216 and D-216A

Info: multi-purpose tandem-rotor helicopter

Powerplant: 3 x General Electric T58-GE-2 turbine engines

Significant date: 1956

In the latter half of 1956, New York Airways negociated with Bell for delivery of a promising passenger-carrying helicopter, the D-216 , a tandem rotor project developed from the Model 61 as a 25-seat commercial transport helicopter, powered by three gas-turbine engines. It was estimated that the new machine would reduce operating costs to about 10 cents per available seat mile. Another promising feature was the type's capacity to provide the first "one engine out" performance for a helicopter, since any two of its three engines could deliver sufficient power to lift its maximum payload.

A military troop-transport variant was also proposed to the U.S. Army, the production of which would certainly have made the civilian version worthwhile. However, neither was built, as the Boeing Vertol V.107 won the Army competition and subsequently occupied the civilian market niche for tandem rotor helicopters. The difference between the D-216 and D-216A variants is not known.

Population: not built

Specs:

Crew/passengers: 25 passengers