Bell 212

7-occupant turbine helicopter · Private helicopters · in production 1968-1998 · See its reach on the 3D globe

Photo: Public Domain Images · Public domain

Indicative 1983 market price€2.65m to €3.17m

Estimated annual cost at 80 h€396k

Five-year cash outlay€4.86m

Key figures

Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.

Seats	7
Reported payload proxy	540 kg
Reported range	158 nm
Practical planning radius (4 people)	Not used for mission ranking
Cruise speed	108 kt
Runway need	Vertical
Pressurised	No
Fuel	Jet A-1
Fixed annual base	€173k
Direct cost per flight hour	€1750

The ownership trade-off

The 212 combines 7-seat helicopter capability with about 158 NM reported range and about 108 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.

Cost picture at different usage

40 hours/year: about €326k per year ( €8138 per flight hour all-in)
80 hours/year: about €396k per year ( €4944 per flight hour all-in)
120 hours/year: about €466k per year ( €3879 per flight hour all-in)
180 hours/year: about €571k per year ( €3169 per flight hour all-in)

Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at €326k per year at 80 hours. Condition, engine time remaining and avionics matter more than the year itself, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model.

Where it fits well

108 kt cruise supports efficient local and regional flying.
158 nm reported range is retained for profile context, but PlaneFit does not use it for mission ranking yet.
540 kg reported payload proxy and 7 seats define the cabin context pending source-level normalization.

Limitations to price honestly

The 212 combines 7-seat helicopter capability with about 158 NM reported range and about 108 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.
€173k fixed annual planning base before flying a single hour.
Component life and mission-specific landing permissions dominate real-world utility.

Recommended missions

Family and small-group touring with a weight-and-balance check for every trip.
Short and medium regional trips, accepting fuel stops when conditions require.
Recreational, training or personal travel where operating efficiency is more important than airline-like speed.