NEWS
Former DOE helicopter finds new home at nuclear science museum
The Bell 412 HP was deployed to secure high-profile events like presidential inaugurations and Super Bowls
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The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History welcomes a new addition to Heritage Park on Tuesday.
Jennifer Hayden, president and CEO of the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, watched as a crane lifted a former U.S. Department of Energy helicopter from the back of a truck at Heritage Park in Southeast Albuquerque.
As the semi-trailer slowly drove off, the crane gently placed the twin-engine Bell 412 HP down between two other flying legends: a B-29 Superfortress and a B-52 Stratofortress.
"(The helicopter) is so incredibly relevant to our museum, being America's resource for nuclear science and history," Hayden said Tuesday.
After 30 years of service with the Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST) — a specialized unit within the DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration — the helicopter has found a new home after being donated by the federal government.
"As part of NEST, the primary emergency response unit for nuclear or radiological incidents, this helicopter was frequently deployed to secure high-profile events, including presidential inaugurations, Super Bowls, and major political conventions," according to a museum news release. "This aircraft (also) provided support to numerous law enforcement, state, community, and tribal agencies in conducting radiological surveys to ensure the safety of first responders and the public during recovery efforts."
NEST did not disclose any mission specifics, Hayden said.
The idea to acquire the Bell 412 came in October 2024 when someone with NEST told Hayden the helicopter was going to be retired.
"They said, 'We have a helicopter that I do believe would be wonderful in your 9-acre outdoor exhibit area,'" Hayden said.
Over the next few months, she said, the museum will put the helicopter in its permanent location, somewhere between the B-29 and B-52 bombers.
"The acquisition of the Bell 412 HP helicopter is a significant milestone for the museum's collection, particularly for its display in Heritage Park," museum spokesperson Bernadette Robin said. "While the museum is well known for its Cold War artifacts, the Bell represents a more modern era of nuclear technology and highlights the role that this artifact plays in safety and civil service. We think it is an amazing opportunity for our visitors to get up close to this important artifact."
Gregory R.C. Hasman is a general assignment reporter and the Road Warrior. He can be reached at ghasman@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3820.
