BLR touts benefits of 212 fin mod
Flight testing of BLR Aerospace’s Bell 212 FastFin modification has demonstrated improved performance that will allow the 212 to carry more weight to highe

Flight testing of BLR Aerospace’s Bell 212 FastFin modification has demonstrated improved performance that will allow the 212 to carry more weight to higher altitudes than standard 212s, according to BLR. The Everett, Wash. company conducted the flight tests at the 9,927-foot airport in Leadville, Colo., late last year.

FastFin combines dual tailboom strakes and a vertical fin modification to improve airflow “to make tail-rotor management easier, safer, more efficient and more productive,” according to its delevoper. The modification includes a flight manual supplement with new performance charts. BLR’s testing showed that the 212 can carry 1,000 pounds or more beyond current weight, altitude and temperature chart limits compared to Bell’s standard 212.