Helicopters gifted to Ukraine: From Pope's ride to pilot school
Polish Governmental Agency for Strategic Reserves has announced the transfer of three helicopters to Ukraine as part of its aid efforts. These helicopters are from the Polish police fleet, and one of them is a model noted for having transported Pope John Paul II.
Two Mi-8 helicopters and one Bell 412-HP were acquired by the Agency for Strategic Reserves through cooperation with the Military Property Agency and the Ministry of Interior and Administration. They are destined for the Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, where they will be used for training exercises for future pilots at this institution. Additionally, the helicopters will likely serve as a source of spare parts for other aircraft used by the Ukrainian aviation.
Mi-8 helicopters are the mainstays of the Ukrainian air force, primarily employed for transporting soldiers and freight over long distances. However, they are also occasionally used in attacks with S-8 rocket pods or for drone hunting.
Conversely, the Bell 412 helicopters are a similar class of aircraft from the USA, derived from the Bell 212, itself a civilian evolution of the renowned military Bell UH-1 (Huey). Poland obtained two Bell 412 helicopters for its Armed Forces, delivered in 1991. Notably, the helicopter numbered 02 was loaned for transporting Pope John Paul II during his pilgrimage to Poland in 1991.
It soon became apparent that one version was too small, leading to its replacement in 1993 with a Bell 412-HP model. This model served in the 36th Special Aviation Transport Regiment until 2011. Following its dissolution, the Bell 412-HP joined the police helicopter fleet. However, due to financial constraints and the lack of spare parts, it spent most of its time in the hangar of the Central Base of the Police Aviation Management of the Main Police Headquarters in Warsaw.
Bell 412 – workhorse of many armed forces and businessmen
The Bell 412-HP helicopter is a twin-engine aircraft with a four-blade rotor, capable of carrying up to eight passengers. Some versions can accommodate 13 people, in addition to two pilots, depending on the interior configuration. The helicopter's empty weight is about 3,300 kilograms, and the maximum takeoff weight is approximately 5,400 kilograms. Interestingly, the Polish unit has a FLIR STAR SAFIRE HD electro-optical head and a thermal imaging camera.
The Bell 412 is very popular among both military and civilian users, with over 1,300 units produced since 1979. The largest users include Canada, Italy, and Japan, where they are produced under license by Bell Helicopter Textron Canada, Leonardo, and Subaru, respectively.
