Bell 47

This article is about the civil versions and operators of the Bell Model 47. For the military versions and operators, see H-13 Sioux.
Bell 47
Bell 47G
Role Multipurpose light helicopter
National origin United States
Manufacturer Bell Aircraft / Bell Helicopter
Designer Arthur M. Young
First flight 8 December 1945
Introduction 1946
Primary users United States Army
British Army
Produced 1946-1974
Number built 5,600
Developed from Bell Model 30
Variants H-13 Sioux
Bell 47J Ranger
Kawasaki KH-4

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

Bell 47G
Bell 47J Ranger

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.

In April 2011 there were 1068 registered with the FAA[3] and 15 in the UK.[4]

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.[5] The sister company that was formed, Scott's - Bell 47, is in the process of starting production of a turboshaft powered version of the Bell 47, the 47GT-6, using a Rolls-Royce RR300 engine and with composite rotor blades, with deliveries planned from 2016.[6]

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 U.S. Army, where it served a variety of roles including reconnaissance and scouting, search and rescue, and medevac. It has also served as the helicopter of choice for basic helicopter flight instruction in many countries.

The "Telecopter," a Bell Model 47 rented by television station KTLA in Los Angeles, California, outfitted with a television camera, made the world's first flight by a television news helicopter on July 3, 1958, with its inventor, John D. Silva, aboard. When the television station reported that it was receiving no video, Silva exited the helicopter's cockpit to climb onto its landing skid while it hovered at 1,500 feet (457 m) so that he could investigate the microwave transmitter bolted to its side, where he discovered that a vacuum tube had failed due to vibration and hot weather. After Silva fixed the problem overnight, the Telecopter made the world's first successful television news flight on July 4, 1958.[7]

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department used the Bell 47 when it started its law enforcement helicopter division in 1971.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) had a number of Bell 47s during the Apollo program, used by astronauts as trainers for the lunar lander. Apollo 17 commander Eugene Cernan had a nearly disastrous crash into the Indian River in Florida in 1972, shortly before his flight to the moon.[8]

Records

Variants

Section source: Complete Encyclopedia[11]

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.
A Bell 47B
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" .[12]
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
Instrument layout on the 47G
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.
1957-built Bell 47H-1 of Adventure Helicopters in commercial service at Opa Locka Airport, Miami in 1982
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.[13]
Bell 47J Ranger
A four-seat version powered by an Avco Lycoming VO-435 engine.[13]
Bell 47K
Military two-seat training variant of the 47J.

Military

See H-13 Sioux

Licensed versions

Agusta Bell 47G, built 1964, Italy.
Agusta A.115
[14][15] 1971 Italian prototype of a Bell 47J with an unclad, tubular tail boom, and powered by a Turbomeca 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.

Operators

Military operators

For all military operators, regardless of the actual model, see Bell H-13 Sioux operators
Agusta-Bell 47G (foreground) and Agusta-Bell AB.47J3 Ranger in Italian Carabinieri markings in 2006

Government operators

 Italy
 United States

Aircraft on display

H-13G/H In M*A*S*H markings at Pueblo Museum.
Brazil
Canada
South Africa
Peru
United Kingdom
Bell 47 owned by the Experimental Aircraft Association
United States

Survivors

Australia
Austria
India
New Zealand

Specifications (Bell 47G-3B)

Data from International Directory of Civil Aircraft[13]

General characteristics

Performance

Notable appearances in media

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "Bell Helicopters". Helicopter History Site.
  2. ↑ "Biography of ARTHUR MIDDLETON YOUNG".
  3. ↑ FAA
  4. ↑ CAA
  5. ↑ Bell Helicopter (February 2010). "Certificate transfer boosts support of Model 47". Shephard Group Limited. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  6. ↑ Majumdar, Dave (6 March 2013). "HELI-EXPO: 1950s Era Bell Model 47 helicopter to return to production". Flighglobal. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  7. ↑ Pool, Bob, "Obituary: John D. Silva, 92; TV Engineer Devised the World's First News Helicopter," The Washington Post, December 11, 2012, Page B6.
  8. ↑ "The Helicopter that Fell to Earth, Gene Cernan's Bell 47 Crash, January 23, 1971". Check-Six.com.
  9. 1 2 3 McGowen, p. 56.
  10. ↑ "FAI Record ID #976" Record date 17 September 1952, Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Accessed: 18 November 2013.
  11. ↑ Donald, David, ed. "Bell Model 47". The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Barnes & Noble Books, 1997. ISBN 0-7607-0592-5.
  12. ↑ "The Bell Airmailer", July 1947, Popular Mechanics bottom of page 78
  13. 1 2 3 Frawley, page 42
  14. ↑ Taylor, M. J. H. (1989). Jane's encyclopedia of aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 40. ISBN 1-85170-324-1.
  15. ↑ Simpson, R. W. (1998). Airlife's Helicopters and Rotorcraft. Ramsbury: Airlife Publishing. p. 37.
  16. ↑ "Italy Paramilitary Police Aviation". aeroflight.co.uk. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  17. ↑ "Inaugurato il Museo Storico del Servizio Aereo della Guardia di Finanza". .elicotteriweb.it. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  18. ↑ "AB 47 Vigili del Fuoco". Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  19. ↑ "Vigili del Fuoco Agusta / Agusta-Bell AB 47 I-VFEN". Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  20. 1 2 "Helicopter Market 1973 pg. 264". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Helicopter Market 1968 pg. 59". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  22. ↑ "New York Police Bell-47D". Demand media. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  23. ↑ Museu Aeroespacial (n.d.). "AERONAVES EM RESERVA TÉCNICA \ EM RESTAURAÇÃO". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  24. ↑ "Alberta Aviation Museum Edmonton - Bell 47G (1970)". Albertaaviationmuseum.com. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  25. ↑ "Bell 47G - Aero Space Museum of Calgary - Collection Details". Asmac.ab.ca. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  26. ↑ "Bell 47G HTL-6 – Canada Aviation and Space Museum". Aviation.technomuses.ca. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  27. ↑ "Bell 47D - CBHC". Bushplane.com. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  28. ↑ "History of the Port Elizabeth SAAF Museum". Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  29. ↑ The Helicopter Museum, the World's Largest Dedicated Helicopter Museum
  30. ↑ Arthur Young. Bell-47D1 Helicopter. 1945
  31. ↑ AirVenture Museum - Pioneer Airport
  32. ↑ Melbourne CBD Helicopter Tour
  33. ↑ Hangar 7: Aircraft
  34. ↑ "Fleet". Pushpaka Aviation. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  35. ↑ M*A*S*H Chopper Scenic Flight

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 0-517-69186-8. 
  • Mutza, Wayne. H-13 Sioux Mini in Action. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-89747-345-0
  • McGowen, Stanley S. Helicopters: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. Weapons and warfare series. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, 2005. ISBN 1-85109-468-7
  • Pelletier, Alain J (1992). Bell aircraft since 1935. Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-056-8. 
  • 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 0-275-96388-8. 
  • 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 0-295-98058-3. 
  • 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.

External links

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