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Old 3rd Nov 2004, 01:26
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Gomer Pylot
 
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Bell reportedly destroyed the jigs, so they can't build any more. None were ever SPIFR, AFAIK. The FARs don't allow flying something that size single pilot, even VFR, in commercial ops. Maybe someone has overseas. They're a maintenance nightmare, and it takes at least one spare to keep one working full time. They're all getting old, and parts are hard to come by. Newer aircraft are faster and more reliable. Both Air Log and PHI still have a few flying offshore, but I don't know how long that will last. PHI now has the S92, and reportedly orders for more, and this will likely replace the few 214s left in service there.

The 214ST is the ultimate UH1 stretch. From what I hear, it was never meant to be a commercial model, just a one-off in a few numbers for Iran, but more were built and sold before Bell discovered the error of its ways. I doubt they ever made any money from them in the long run, because of support costs.
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