Bell CH-146 Griffon

CH-146 Griffon
A CH-146 Griffon from 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron
General information
TypeUtility helicopter
National originUnited States / Canada
ManufacturerBell Helicopter
StatusIn service
Primary userRoyal Canadian Air Force
Number built100
History
Manufactured1992–1997
Introduction date1995
First flight1992
Developed fromBell 412
CH-146 Griffon on exercises in 2006

The Bell CH-146 Griffon is a multi-role utility helicopter designed by Bell Helicopter Textron as a variant of the Bell 412EP for the Canadian Armed Forces. It is used in a wide variety of roles, including aerial firepower, reconnaissance, search and rescue and aero-mobility tasks.[1] The CH-146 has a crew of three, can carry up to ten troops and has a cruising speed of 220–260 km/h (120–140 kn; 140–160 mph).[2]

The CH-146 is a continuation of decades long use of the Huey family by Canadian military, starting with the UH-1H model in 1968, and expanded by use of the UH-1N Twin Huey; known as the CH-118 and CH-135 respectively. Both were retired in the 1990s and replaced by the CH-146; it also replaced early model CH-147 Chinook and CH-136 Kiowa helicopters, although in the 2010s additional Chinooks were acquired of the latest type. The CH-146 has served in missions internationally and domestically. They were built in Canada. The fleet is currently being modernized for service into the 2030s.

  1. ^ "The Canadian Army – Equipment – Griffon Helicopter (CH-146)". Department of National Defence. October 2006. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference DNDAirForce specs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).