Newly registered to BCal Helicopters just a month before this show appearance, this B214 ditched 12nm NE of Frazerburgh on 15th May 1986 following collective control failure on a return flight from Sumburgh to Aberdeen. It was recovered, repaired and sold to Bristow Australia as VH-LHT, changing to VH-BEE. After reverting to G-BKFN with Bristow in 1995, to LZ-CAW but again returned with UK reg. In 2007 became N727HT then C-GDYZ in 2010 with Helicopter Transport Services Canada. Crashed on 7th June 2021 during fire suppression ops near Nipigon in Ontario after tail rotor failure. Repaired again

The Bell 214ST was originally developed as a military project from the Bell 214B BigLifter, specifically for production in Iran, but after the overthrow of the Shah such plans were cancelled. Bell decided to proceed with marketing it for the civil market and this was their demonstrator helicopter, the registration later being used on another B214

N724HT, one of the eyecatcher at the Verticon 2025 event, was airlifted to Greece in late April 2025 for the fire season, where it mainly flew out of Rhodos. McDermott operates the largest Bell 214 Series fleet, and has around a dozen single engine Bell 214B-1 Big Lifters and approx. the same number of the twin engine Bell 214ST Super Transport. N724HT is a 1988 built heli which till September 2018 was operated in Japan as JA9683 for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Briefly became C-FHTS with Helicopter Transport Services Canada in 2019, then N724HT in July 2024.

This Bell 214B Big Lifter was bought new by Bow Helicopters in 1979 around the same time Okanagan Helicopters bought Bow and merged the fleet. Pictured in Bow colors, the helicopter would get Okanagan organge before leased out to TransWestern Helicopters (N4434D) 1984 - 85. Next to JA9446 with the Japan Agricultural and Forestry Service, It returned to Canada as C-GTWZ with Transwest Helicopters and operated 1999 - 2008. N217PJ with PJ Helicopters 2008 - 16, the helicopter is currently leased to McDermott Aviation at the time of uploading.

Photo by Vance Vasquez

Previously registered JA9683 and C-FHTS, N724HT is now with Australia's largest Heli-Aviation Company, McDermott Aviation. Having acquired the type certificate and remaining Bell 214ST stock from Erickson Air Crane, the company is planning to restart production of the big utility helicopter.

Sold in Australia as VH-LHU in October 1992. Bob Kerr photo

Formerly VH-SYU, cancelled as sold in the US in 2022.

This Bell 214 is assigned to the Base flight/SAR squadron of the 6th Tactical Air Base Bushehr. The Arabic titels on the door read "Penhan"

N391AL is McDermott Aviations first Bell 214ST. Fitted with an Australian designed and manufactured Helitak under belly tank. Flying as Helitak 347 for fire season 2021.

Taken tonight 20/12/24 on a property near my home is McDermott's B214 Big lifter N1601L fighting a fire which broke out in park land.

Taking on water during ongoing operations to counter potential wildfires in the Athens area of Greece.

Previously: LN-OSW, P2-OSW, LN-OSW, C-GTWI