Bell 222SP Flight Characteristics/Operations

[Teton Rotor]

Searched the forum and found no joy in general feedback on the flight characteristics/operations of the Bell 222SP. It seems to get a subjective "knock" in the field from pilots, but I wanted to hear from pilots who have flown it (objectivity). Any maintenance raps on the model?

Thanks

[430EMSpilot]

Haven't flown one in 12 years but I liked it. Steam gauges, 4 axis autopilot, lycoming engines. We flew ours (we had 2) around 800 hours per year and with a good proactive mechanic we had few problems...relatively speaking.

I imagine parts are getting scarce and operating costs are high these days but I did enjoy flying it. Of course now I've been spoiled by newer, more technologically advanced aircraft, but for the time it was more than adequate.

[Encyclo]

222SP was the Louisiana mod (read STC) of the original Lycoming powered triple deuce. It used Rolls Royce engines with all sorts of special bits to fit those in. It is not a 230 and does not use the same parts.

222/230 parts are hard to come by, 222SP are much worse (non existant?). Better off getting a 230.

Fly Safe, Always :ok:

[430EMSpilot]

Oops you're right Encyclo, I was thinking of the UT!