Originally Posted by
Copter Appreciator00
Wikipedia says the copter carrying the Iranian president and his team was a Bell 212. It was likely an airframe sold to Iran in the late 70s when relations were solid between the US and Iran, when they bought dozens of F-14s, F-4 phantoms, and Bell models, like the AH-1J, 205, 212, 206, 214.
That all ended in 1979, so no new airframes could have been sold to Iran after then, so this Bell 212 that went down would have been say, built in 1976-78; that's reasonable. It would have been at least 47-49 years old. My question is:
1) Why was the Iranian PRESIDENT riding in such an old helicopter in 2024? Wouldn't old Bell 212s, 205s be used for military or civil missions for less important figures?
Looking at TV coverage of the cabin interior, I thought it was a Bell 214, poss even the VIP variant the 214ST. So yes, old.