Bell 47
The Bell 47 is a two-bladed, single engine, light helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. Based on the third Model 30 prototype, Bell's first helicopter designed by Arthur M. Young, the Bell 47 became the first helicopter certified for civilian use on 8 March 1946.[1][2] More than 5,600 Bell 47 aircraft were produced, including those produced under license by Agusta in Italy, Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan, and Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom. The Bell 47J Ranger is a modified version with a fully enclosed cabin and fuselage.
Design and development
Early models varied in appearance, with open cockpits or sheet metal cabins, fabric covered or open structures, some with four-wheel landing gear. Later model D and Korean War H-13D and E types settled on a more utilitarian style. The most common model, the 47G introduced in 1953, can be recognized by the full bubble canopy, exposed welded-tube tail boom, saddle fuel tanks and skid landing gear.
The later three-seat 47H had an enclosed cabin with full cowling and monocoque tail boom. It was an attempt to market a "luxury" version of the basic 47G. Relatively few were produced.
Engines were Franklin or Lycoming vertically-mounted piston engines of 200 to 305 HP (150 to 230 kW). Seating varied from two (early 47s and the later G-5A) to four (the J and KH-4).
As of 2005, many are still in use as trainers and in agriculture.
There are currently (April 2011) 1068 registered with the FAA& 15 in the UK CAA
Bell 47s were produced in Japan by a Bell and Kawasaki venture; this led to the Kawasaki KH-4 variant, a four-seat version of the Model 47 with a cabin similar to the Bell 47J. It differed from the "J" in having a standard uncovered tailboom and fuel tanks like the G series. It was sold throughout Asia, and some were used in Australia.
In February 2010, the Bell 47 type certificates were transferred to Scott's Helicopter Services.[3]
Operational history
The Bell 47 helicopter entered U.S. military service in late 1946, in a variety of versions and designations for three decades. In the Korean War, it was designated the H-13 Sioux by the United States Army. It has also served as the helicopter of choice for basic helicopter flight instruction in many countries.
NASA had a number of Bell 47s during the Apollo program, used by astronauts as trainers for the Lunar Lander. Eugene Cernan had a near disastrous accident shortly before his flight to the moon on Apollo 17, crashing into the Indian River.[4]
The Los Angeles County Fire Department in California used the Bell 47 as the department's very first aircraft in 1957.
Two helicopter types, the 47G and the 47J Ranger, were used in the popular television series (1957-1960) Whirlybirds.
Batman used the Bell 47 as the "Batcopter" in "Batman the Movie" in 1966.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department used the Bell 47 when it started its law enforcement helicopter division in 1971.
Records
- 13 May 1949, a Bell 47 set an altitude record of 18,550 feet (5,650 m).[5]
- 21 September 1950, first helicopter to fly over the Alps.[5]
- 17 September 1952, Bell pilot Elton J. Smith set a world distance record of 1,217 mi (1,959 km), by flying nonstop from Hurst, Texas to Buffalo, New York.[5]
Variants
- Section source: Complete Encyclopedia[6]
Civilian
- Bell 47
- Pre-production version, powered by a 133-kW (178-hp) Franklin piston engine.
- Bell 47A
- Improved version of the Bell 47, powered by a 117-kW (157-hp) Franklin O-335-1 piston engine.
- Bell 47B
- Equivalent to the military YR-13/HTL-1, powered by the Franklin O-335-1 piston engine.
- Bell 47B-3
- Agricultural/utility version with open crew positions. Also, offered in a version to the US Postal Service as the Bell "Airmailer" . [7]
- Bell 47C
- Bell 47D
- First to appear with a moulded 'goldfish bowl' canopy.
- Bell 47D-1
- Introduced in 1949, it had an open tubework tailboom reminiscent of the Bell Model 30, ship number 3, and a three-seat configuration.
- Bell 47E
- Powered by a 149-kW (200-hp) Franklin 6V4-200-C32 engine.
- Bell 47F
- Bell 47G
- Combines a 149 kW Franklin engine with the three-seat configuration of the 47D-1 and introduced the twin saddle-bag fuel tank configuration.
- Bell 47G-2
- Powered by the Lycoming VO-435 engine. Produced under license by Westland Aircraft as the Westland Sioux, for the UK military.
- Bell 47G-2A
- Powered by a 179 kW version of the VO-435.
- Bell 47G-2A-1
- Wider cabin, improved rotor blades and increased fuel capacity.
- Bell 47G-3
- Powered by a supercharged 168 kW Franklin 6VS-335-A.
- Bell 47G-3B
- Powered by a turbocharged 209 kW Avco Lycoming TVO-435.
- Bell 47G-4
- Three-seat helicopter powered by an Avco Lycoming VO-540 engine.
- Bell 47G-5
- A three-seat, utility version. A two-seat agricultural version was later known as the Ag-5. The 47G-5 was the last model to be produced by Bell.
- Bell 47H-1
- A three-seat version with an enclosed cabin and fuselage.[8]
- Bell 47J Ranger
- A four-seat version powered by an Avco Lycoming VO-435 engine.[8]
Military
- See H-13 Sioux
Licenced versions
- Agusta A.115[9][10]
- 1971 Italian prototype of a Bell 47J with an unclad, tubular tail boom, and powered by a Turboméca Astazou II turboshaft engine
- Meridionali/Agusta EMA 124
- Italian prototype with redesigned forward fuselage. Not produced.
- Kawasaki KH-4
- Japanese production version with redesigned, lengthened cabin, and redesigned control system
Conversions
- Carson Super C-4
- El Tomcat Mk.II
- Bell 47G-2 modified extensively for agricultural spraying by Continental Copters Inc. First flew in April 1959. Followed by further improved versions.[11]
Operators
Government operators
- Italy
- New Zealand
Aircraft on display
- Brazil
- Canada
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
- United States
Survivors
- Australia
- Bell47.com.au in Brisbane uses a Bell 47G5A for tourist flights.[16]
- Austria
- Red Bull - FlyingBulls - Hangar-7 in Salzburg flies a Bell 47 G-3B-1 (SOLOY conversion).[17]
- Canada
- The College of the North Atlantic (Gander Campus), Newfoundland and Labrador has a functioning Bell 47 used as a training aid for students taking the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering program.
- New Zealand
- Adventure Aviation in Tauranga uses a Bell 47G in a "M*A*S*H" paint scheme for tourist flights.[18]
- Number 3 Squadron (Training Flight) of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) still operates the B47G as an ab-initio training helicopter. The first helicopters to be flown by the RNZAF, six B47G-3B-1 (NZ3701 -NZ3706) were delivered in 1965. Seven B47G-3B-2 (NZ3707 - NZ3713) were purchased in 1968 and delivered during 1970. The five remaining Sioux in RNZAF service are all B47G-3B-2. All will be replaced in 2011 by the Augusta A109LUH.
- United States
- Dedicated Helicopters, Inc. of Palm Springs, California has a military TH-13T serial 67-17005, turned civilian serial 3687(N170HF) giving rides every week.
Specifications (Bell 47G-3B)
Data from International Directory of Civil Aircraft[8]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 or 2
- Capacity: 1 passenger or 2 litters
- Length: 31 ft 7 in (9.63 m)
- Rotor diameter: 37 ft 2 in (11.32 m)
- Height: 9 ft 3 in (2.83 m)
- Disc area: 1,085 sq ft (100.8 m²)
- Empty weight: 1,893 lb (858 kg)
- Useful load: 1,057 lb (482 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,950 lb (1,340 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming TVO-435-F1A flat, six-cylinder, reciprocating engine, 280 hp (210 kW)
Performance
Popular culture
The Bell 47 appeared, and played key roles, in film and television productions. It has been associated with both the M*A*S*H film and M*A*S*H television series, and the Whirlybirds TV series (1957–1960).[19]
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
References
Notes
- ^ "Bell Helicopters". Helicopter History Site.
- ^ "Biography of ARTHUR MIDDLETON YOUNG".
- ^ Bell Helicopter (February 2010). "Certificate transfer boosts support of Model 47". Shephard Group Limited. http://www.shephard.co.uk/news/rotorhub/certificate-transfer-boosts-support-of-model-47/5623/. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- ^ "The Helicopter that Fell to Earth, Gene Cernan's Bell 47 Crash, January 23, 1971". Check-Six.com.
- ^ a b c McGowen, p. 56.
- ^ Donald, David, ed. "Bell Model 47". The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Barnes & Noble Books, 1997. ISBN 0-7607-0592-5.
- ^ "The Bell Airmailer", July 1947, Popular Mechanics bottom of page 78
- ^ a b c Frawley, page 42
- ^ Taylor, M. J. H. (1989). Jane's encyclopedia of aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 40. ISBN 1851703241.
- ^ Simpson, R. W. (1998). Airlife's Helicopters and Rotorcraft. Ramsbury: Airlife Publishing. p. 37.
- ^ "Continental Copters "El Tomcat"". Helicopter History Site. http://avia.russian.ee/helicopters_eng/bell_e1_tomcat.php.
- ^ Museu Aeroespacial (undated). "AERONAVES EM RESERVA TÉCNICA \ EM RESTAURAÇÃO". http://www.musal.aer.mil.br/. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
- ^ The Helicopter Museum, the World's Largest Dedicated Helicopter Museum
- ^ Arthur Young. Bell-47D1 Helicopter. 1945
- ^ AirVenture Museum - Pioneer Airport
- ^ Brisbane CBD Helicopter Tour
- ^ Hangar 7: Aircraft
- ^ M*A*S*H Chopper Scenic Flight
- ^ University of Toronto Bell 47 Web site project
Bibliography
- Donald, David (1997). The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY, NY: Barnes & Noble. ISBN 0-7607-0592-5.
- Frawley, Gerard (2003). The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004. Fyshwick, ACT, Australia: Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-875671-58-7.
- Jane, Fred T; Taylor, Michael John Haddrick (1989). Jane's encyclopedia of aviation. New York: Portland House. ISBN 0517691868.
- Mutza, Wayne. H-13 Sioux Mini in Action. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-89747-329-0
- McGowen, Stanley S. Helicopters: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. Weapons and warfare series. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, 2005. ISBN 1851094687
- Pelletier, Alain J (1992). Bell aircraft since 1935. Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1557500568.
- Riley, David (February 1958). "French Helicopter Operations in Algeria". Marine Corps Gazette. pp. 21–26.
- Shrader, Charles R. (1999). The first helicopter war: logistics and mobility in Algeria, 1954-1962. Westport, CT: Praeger. ISBN 0275963888.
- Spenser, Jay P. (1998). Whirlybirds a history of the U.S. helicopter pioneers. Seattle: University of Washington Press in association with Museum of Flight. ISBN 0295980583.
- United States, Headquarters Department of the Army, Army Concept Team in Vietnam. Final Report of Essential Load of Scout Helicopters. Saigon, Vietnam: Army Concept Team in Vietnam, 1966.
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