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Bell 47 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bell 47
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.

Bell 47

Contents
1 Design and development
2 Operational history
2.1 Records
3 Variants
3.1 Civilian
3.2 Military
3.3 Licenced versions
3.4 Conversions
4 Operators
4.1 Military operators
4.2 Government operators
5 Aircraft on display
6 Survivors
7 Specifications (Bell 47G-3B)
8 Notable appearances in media
9 See also
10 References
10.1 Notes
10.2 Bibliography
11 External links

Bell 47G
Role

Multipurpose light helicopter

Manufacturer

Bell Helicopters

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

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
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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.[citation needed]
In April 2011 there were 1068 registered
UK.[4]

with the FAA[3] and

Bell 47G

15 in the

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] Scott's intend to restart production of a
turboshaft powered version of the helicopter, using a Rolls-Royce
RR300 engine and with composite rotor blades, with deliveries planned
from 2016.[6]

Bell 47J Ranger

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. 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.[citation needed]
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]
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Records
13 May 1949, a Bell 47 set an altitude record of 18,550 feet (5,650 m).[9]
21 September 1950, first helicopter to fly over the Alps.[9]
17 September 1952, Bell pilot Elton J. Smith set a world distance record for piston helicopters of 1,217
miles (1,959 km)
by flying nonstop from Hurst, Texas, to Buffalo, New York.[9] As of 2013, this record still stands.[10]

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.
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
A Bell 47B
First to appear with a moulded 'goldfish bowl'
[citation
needed]
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.
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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.[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

Instrument layout on the 47G

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

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
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Military operators
For all military operators, regardless of the actual model, see Bell H-13 Sioux operators

Government operators
Italy
Carabinieri[16]
Guardia di Finanza[17]
Vigili del Fuoco[18][19]
United States
Los Angeles City Fire Department[20]
Los Angeles Police Department[21]
New York City Police Department[22][23]

Agusta-Bell 47G (foreground) and


Agusta-Bell AB.47J3 Ranger in Italian
Carabinieri markings in 2006

Aircraft on display
Brazil
Museu Aeroespacial in Rio de Janeiro[24]
Canada
Alberta Aviation Museum in Edmonton, Alberta is restoring a 47G
Model.[25]
Aero Space Museum of Calgary has a Bell 47G on display.[26]
Canada Aviation and Space Museum, in Ottawa, Ontario, has a
Bell 47 on display, as well as a removed cockpit section for
visitors to sit in.[27]
Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in Sault ste Marie, Ontario,
has a Bell 47D on display.[28]

H-13G/H In M*A*S*H markings at


Pueblo Museum.

South Africa
South African Air Force Museum - Bell 47G Sioux Mk.2 (ex RAF XT562)[29]
Peru
Peruvian National Police - Air Police Base in Callao, has a Bell 47G at the main gate and another one in
display inside the Base.[citation needed]
United Kingdom
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A Westland Sioux is on display at The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare.[30]


North East Aircraft Museum, Tyne & Wear, has a Bell 47D under restoration as of November 2010.
Newark Air Museum, Winthorpe, Nottinghamshire, has a Westland Sioux on display as of May 2011
United States
Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida has a Bell 47G on display.
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia, includes a Bell
47 and the Bell Model 30 predecessor.
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City has a Bell 47D-1 on permanent display.[31]
EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has multiple Bell 47 helicopters available to ride.[32]
US Army Aviation Museum, Fort Rucker, Alabama - 3 OH13s are displayed in the main
hall.[citation needed]

Survivors
Australia
Bell47experience.com.au in Melbourne uses a Bell 47G5A for tourist flights.[33]
Austria
Red Bull - FlyingBulls - Hangar-7 in Salzburg flies a Bell 47 G-3B-1 (SOLOY conversion).[34]
India
Pushpaka Aviation in Mumbai operates a G-2, a G-3 B2 and a G5 for Crop dusting and Aerial seeding.[35]
New Zealand
Adventure Aviation in Tauranga uses a Bell 47G in a "M*A*S*H" paint scheme for tourist flights.[36]

Specifications (Bell 47G-3B)


Data from International Directory of Civil Aircraft[13]

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 sqft (100.8 m)
Empty weight: 1,893 lb (858 kg)
Useful load: 1,057 lb (482
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kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 2,950
lb (1,340 kg)
Powerplant: 1 Lycoming
TVO-435-F1A flat, sixcylinder, reciprocating engine,
280 hp (210 kW)

Performance
Maximum speed: 91 knots
(105 mph, 169 km/h)
Cruise speed: 73 knots (84
mph, 135 km/h)
Range: 214 nmi (245 mi,
395 km)
Rate of climb: 860 ft/min
(4.37 m/s)

Notable appearances in media


Main article: Aircraft in fiction#Bell_47

See also
Related development
Agusta A.115
Bell H-13 Sioux
Bell 47J Ranger
Bell 201/XH-13F
Bell 207 Sioux Scout
Continental Copters El Tomcat
Kawasaki KH-4
Meridionali/Agusta EMA 124
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Canadian Home Rotors Safari
Hiller OH-23 Raven
Hughes TH-55 Osage
Sikorsky S-300
Related lists
List of military aircraft of the United States
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