Last 4 Bell 412EP to be delivered August

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 14): Last 4 Bell 412EP to be delivered August

The last four Bell 412EP combat utility helicopters will be delivered by August.

This was confirmed by Defense undersecretary for finance, modernization and materiel Fernando Manalo in an interview with the PNA Tuesday.

He said that the four will join the other four now undergoing testing and evaluation by the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

The first batch of four arrived last May and June.

The Department of National Defense (DND) on March 2014, signed a Php4.8 billion contract with Canadian government for the delivery of eight Bell 412EP helicopters.

The helicopters will be acquired government-to-government through Candian Commercial Corporation.

"Three of these eight helicopters will be configured as (as) VIP helicopters for the coming APEC meet in September," Manalo earlier said.

These new helicopters are intended to replace the five aging Bell 412 helicopters of the Office of President which were acquired during the time of President Fidel V. Ramos.

The Bell 412EP is capable of carrying 14 passengers and is capable of flying at a maximum speed of 140 knots (around 259 kilometers), cruise speed of 122 knots (226 kilometers per hour) and a range of 402 nautical miles (745 kilometers).

It is powered with an enhanced Pratt and Whitney PT6T-3D Twin Pac.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=782545