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
A Bell Model 47G
Role	Multipurpose light helicopter
Manufacturer	Bell Helicopter
Designed by	Arthur M. Young
First flight	8 December 1945
Introduced	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 aircraft produced under license by Agusta in Italy, Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan, and Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom. The Bell 47J Ranger is modified version with a fully enclosed cabin and fuselage.

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 Government operators 5 Survivors 6 Specifications (Bell 47G-3B) 7 Popular culture 8 See also 9 References 9.1 Notes 9.2 Bibliography 10 External links

Bell 47J RangerEarly models were variable 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 to 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 effort 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]There are currently (September 2010) 87 registered with the FAA& 15 in the UK CAABell 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. They were sold throughout Asia, and some were used in Australia.In the spring of 2010, the Bell 47 Type Certificates were transferred to Scott's - Bell 47, Inc. Scott's - Bell 47 is now responsible for providing product support for the Bell 47 helicopter.

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 a trainer for the Lunar Lander. Eugene Cernan had a near disastrous accident shortly before his flight to the moon on Apollo 17 by crashing one into the Indian River.[3]The Los Angeles County Fire Department in California used the Bell 47 as the department's very first aircraft in 1957.[citation needed]The San Diego County Sheriff's Department used the Bell 47 when they started their law enforcement helicopter division in 1971.

• 13 May 1949, a Bell 47 set an altitude record of 18,550 feet (5,650 m).[4]
• 21 September 1950, first helicopter to fly over the Alps.[4]
• 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.[4]

Section source: Complete Encyclopedia[5]

Bell 47Pre-production version, powered by a 133-kW (178-hp) Franklin piston engine.Bell 47AImproved version of the Bell 47, powered by a 117-kW (157-hp) Franklin O-335-1 piston engine.Bell 47BEquivalent to the military YR-13/HTL-1, powered by the Franklin O-335-1 piston engine.Bell 47B-3Agricultural/utility version with open crew positions.Bell 47CBell 47DFirst to appear with a moulded 'goldfish bowl' canopy.[citation needed]Bell 47D-1Introduced in 1949, it had an open tubework tailboom reminiscent of the Bell Model 30, ship number 3, and a three-seat configuration.Bell 47EPowered by a 149-kW (200-hp) Franklin 6V4-200-C32 engine.Bell 47F


Instrument layout on the 47GBell 47GCombines 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-2Powered by the Lycoming VO-435 engine. Produced under license by Westland Aircraft as the Westland Sioux, for the UK military.Bell 47G-2APowered by a 179 kW version of the VO-435.Bell 47G-2A-1Wider cabin, improved rotor blades and increased fuel capacity.Bell 47G-3Powered by a supercharged 168 kW Franklin 6VS-335-A.Bell 47G-3BPowered by a turbocharged 209 kW Avco Lycoming TVO-435.Bell 47G-4Three-seat helicopter powered by an Avco Lycoming VO-540 engine.Bell 47G-5A 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-1A three-seat version with an enclosed cabin and fuselage.[6]Bell 47J RangerA four-seat version powered by an Avco Lycoming VO-435 engine.[6]

See H-13 Sioux

Agusta Bell 47G, built 1964, Italy.Agusta A.115[7][8]1971 Italian prototype of a Bell 47J with an unclad, tubular tail boom, and powered by a Turboméca Astazou II turboshaft engineMeridionali/Agusta EMA 124Italian prototype with redesigned forward fuselage. Not produced.Kawasaki KH-4Japanese production version with redesigned, lengthened cabin, and redesigned control system

Carson Super C-4El Tomcat Mk.IIBell 47G-2 modified extensively for agricultural spraying by Continental Copters Inc. First flew in April 1959. Followed by further improved versions.[9]

Agusta-Bell 47G (foreground) and Agusta-Bell AB.47J3 Ranger in Italian Carabinieri markings in 2006

 Italy

• Carabinieri

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

• The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia, includes a Bell 47 and the Bell Model 30 predecessor.
• The Alberta Aviation Museum in Edmonton, Alberta is restoring a 47G Model.
• The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City has a Bell 47D-1 on permanent display.[10]
• Adventure Aviation in Tauranga, New Zealand uses a Bell 47G in a "M*A*S*H" paint scheme for tourist scenic flights.[11]
• Red Bull - FlyingBulls - Hangar-7 in Salzburg, Austria flies a Bell 47 G-3B-1 (SOLOY) Reg. D-HEBA.[12]
• The EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has multiple Bell 47 helicopters available to ride.[13]
• The College of the North Atlantic (Gander Campus) has a functioning Bell 47 used as a training aid for students taking the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering program.
• The Canadian Aviation Museum, in Ottawa, Ontario, has a Bell 47 on display, as well as a removed cockpit section for visitors to sit in.
• 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.
• A 47G Sioux Mk.2 (ex RAF XT562) is on static display at the South African Air Force Museum.
• A westland sioux is on display at the helicopter museum in England]

Data from International Directory of Civil Aircraft[6]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

• 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)

Later (post Korean war) Bell 47G in faux M*A*S*H paint scheme.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).[14] The helicopter also featured as the cover art for Swedish pop group ABBA's album, Arrival (ABBA album) released in 1976

Related development

• H-13 Sioux
• Bell 47J Ranger
• Bell 201/XH-13F
• Bell 207 Sioux Scout
• Kawasaki KH-4
• Agusta A.115
• Meridionali/Agusta EMA 124
• Carson Super C-4
• Continental Copters El Tomcat
  

Comparable aircraft

• OH-23 Raven
• TH-55 Osage/Hughes 269
• SAFARI
• Hughes/Schweizer 300
  

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States
  

^ "Bell Helicopters". Helicopter History Site.

^ "Biography of ARTHUR MIDDLETON YOUNG".

^ "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.

^ 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. 

^ Arthur Young. Bell-47D1 Helicopter. 1945

^ M*A*S*H Chopper Scenic Flight

^ Hangar 7: Aircraft

^ AirVenture Museum - Pioneer Airport

^ University of Toronto Bell 47 Web site project

• 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.

• Bell 47.net
• Bell 47 Enthusiast site
• Model 47G Museum site
• Model 47G specs from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft by Gerard Frawley

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