The Bell 47 was the first helicopter certified for civilian use, on 8 March 1946. It was mostly designed by Arthur M. Young, who joined Bell Helicopter in 1941. More than 5,600 were produced until 1974, including 1,200 under license in Italy, 239 in Japan, and 239 in the UK.

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 (1950-1953) it was designated the H-13 Sioux by the United States Army, a highlight of its extensive career. It has also served as the helicopter of choice for basic helicopter flight instruction in many countries.

1960 Bell 47J2 Ranger C-FAFK (sn 1805) A rare sight of this four seat light utility helicopter built by Bell Helicopter. Photo taken June 08, 2008 Penticton Airport, BC Canada (YYF / CYYF) Photo © AirplaneMart.com

1960 Bell 47J2 Ranger C-FAFK (sn 1805) Cockpit View Photo taken June 08, 2008 Penticton Airport, BC Canada (YYF / CYYF) Photo © AirplaneMart.com

1960 Bell 47J2 Ranger C-FAFK (sn 1805) Instrument Panel Photo taken June 08, 2008 Penticton Airport, BC Canada (YYF / CYYF) Photo © AirplaneMart.com

1960 Bell 47J2 Ranger C-FAFK (sn 1805) Front view with large bubble canopy that provides a great view for the pilot and passengers. Photo taken June 08, 2008 Penticton Airport, BC Canada (YYF / CYYF) Photo © AirplaneMart.com

Design

Early models were variable in appearance, with open cockpits or sheet metal cabins, covered or open structures, some with four-wheel landing gear. Model D and Korean War 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.

Later 47H and 47J Ranger models had a regular cabin with full cowling and monocoque tail boom. Engines were Franklin or Lycoming horizontally-opposed piston engines of 200 to 305 HP (150 to 230 kW). Seating varied from two to four. Many are still in use as trainers and in agriculture (as of 2005).

Operational history

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.

Initially, the US Navy procured several Bell 47s, designated HTL-1, between 1947 and 1958. The US Coast Guard evaluated this model, and procured two HTL-1s for multi-mission support in the New York Harbor. The most common US Navy version of the 47 was designated the HTL-4, and dispenses with the fabric covering on the tail boom. The US Coast Guard procured three HTL-5s in 1952 (similar to the HTL-4 but powered by a Franklin 0-335-5 engine) and used these until 1960.

The Coast Guard procured two of Bell's Model 47G and designated them HUL-1G in 1959.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department in California used the Bell 47 as the department's very first aircraft in 1957.

The British version of the 47G, called by the British Army the Sioux AH.1, was built by Westland Helicopters for use by the Army Air Corps, who used it until the early 1980s. The Sioux military version was often equipped with military evacuation panniers, one to each skid, with an acrylic glass shield to protect the patient from wind.

H-13 were produced in Japan by a Bell and Kawasaki venture; this led to the Bell-Kawasaki KH-4 variant, essentially a three seat version of the Model 47.

Variants

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 0-335-1 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.
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 saddle-bag fuel tank configuration.
Bell 47G-2 - Powered by the Avco Lycoming VO-435 engine. Produced under license by Westland 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 of the U.S. Air Force's UH-13J. It was marketed as the Model 47J Ranger and powered by an Avco Lycoming VO-435 engine. 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 - De-luxe version.
Bell 47J
Bell-Kawasaki KH-4 - Japanese production version.

Military
YR-13/HTL-1 - 28 Bell 47A helicopters procured by the U.S. Air Force for evaluation. The YR-13 was powered by a 117 kW Franklin O-335-1 piston engine. 10 of the aircraft were evaluated by the U.S. Navy as trainers.
YR-13A - 3 YR-13 aircraft winterized for cold-weather testing in Alaska.
HTL-2 - US Navy equivalent of the commercial Model 47D. 12 built.
HTL-3 - US Navy equivalent of the commercial Model 47E, powered by a 149-kW (200-hp) Franklin 6V4-200-C32 engine. Nine built.
H-13B - 65 aircraft ordered in 1948 by the U.S. Army. All Army versions were later named Sioux.
H-13C - 15 H-13B aircraft converted to carry external stretchers in 1952.
H-13D - Army two-seat version with skid landing gear, stretcher carriers, and Franklin O-335-5 engine.
OH-13E - H-13D configuration with three-seat aircraft with dual controls.
XH-13F/Bell 201 - Modified Bell 47G powered by a Continental XT51-T-3 (Turbomeca Artouste) turboshaft. The first Bell helicopter powered by a turbine engine.
OH-13G - Introduced a small elevator on the tailboom.
UH-13J - Two Bell 47J Ranger aircraft utilizing the 179 kW Lycoming VO-435 engine acquired for VIP transport of the U.S. President by the U.S. Air Force. Originally designated as H-13J.
OH-13H/UH-13H - Equipped with a 186 kW Lycoming VO-435 engine. UH-13Hs were used by the U.S. Air Force.
OH-13K - Two converted H-13Hs with a larger diameter rotor and a 168 kW Franklin 6VS-335 engine for test evaluation.
TH-13L - Originally designated as the Navy HTL-4.
HTL-5 - Utilized a Lycoming O-335-5 engine.
TH-13M - Incorporated a small movable elevator. Originally designated as the Navy HTL-6.
TH-13N - Two-seat, dual-control, instrument trainer with all-weather instrumentation. Originally designated as the Navy HTL-7.
UH-13P - Used aboard ice-breaking ships. Originally designated as the Navy HUL-1.
HH-13Q - Originally the HUL-1G, it was used by the U.S. Coast Guard for search and rescue.
UH-13R - Powered by an Allison YT63-A-3 turbposhaft engine. Original US Navy designation HUL-1M.
OH-13S - Three-seat observation helicopter to replace the OH-13H.
TH-13T - Two-seat instrument trainer for the U.S. Army based on the 47G-3B-1.
Sioux AH1 - British military designation for both Agusta and Westland licence-built Model 47G-3B1s for the British Army.
Sioux HT2 - British military designation for Westland licence-built Model 47G-3B1s for the Royal Air Force.

Conversions
Agusta A.115 - 1971 Italian prototype of a Bell 47J with an unclad, tubular tail boom, and powered by a Turboméca Astazou II turboshaft engine.
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.

Bell 47 redesignations
The Bell 47 was designated under multiple systems, see United States of America military aircraft designation systems. It is best known as the H-13 Sioux, though it actually started as the YR-13 in 1946. It became the H-13 under the USAF, though the USN had called it the HTL.

In post-1962 US designations combinations with the number 13 are often skipped, but in the older system the R-13/H-13 shared the number with the X-13 Vertijet and XP-13 Viper (see List of military aircraft of the United States)

In 1962 Army, Navy, and Air Force versions were redesignated under the new Tri-service system. Mainly, the H-13 based ones were converted to new standards which included a vehicle type designator and a mission symbol (2 letter prefix; OH, UH, XH, etc. This was a shift from the initial USAF 1948 system (with the numbered carried over from the USAAF/C system) and the USN 1922-1962 system to the new 1962 system.

Designations

Operators

- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- Republic of China
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Iceland: Icelandic Coast Guard
- Indonesia
- India
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mexico
- New Zealand : Royal New Zealand Air Force, No. 3 Squadron RNZAF
- Pakistan
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines : Philippine Air Force
- Senegal
- South Yemen
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sweden
- Thailand
- Turkey
- United Kingdom: British Army, RAF
- United States: USAF, US Army, US Navy, US Marines, US Coast Guard
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Yugoslavia
- Zaire
- Zambia

Survivors

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia. includes the H-13 which was the first helicopter to carry an American President (Dwight D. Eisenhower) as well as the Model 30 predecessor and the Bell 47.

The Alberta Aviation Museum in Edmonton, Alberta is restoring a 47G Model.

The Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum, Pueblo, Colorado has a restored H-13G with a "M*A*S*H" look.

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City has a Bell 47D1 on permanent display.

Castle Air Museum in Atwater, CA has a Bell H-13 with the M*A*S*H paint scheme in their "Hidden aircraft collection". Unfortunately, the H-13, along with other aircraft in their hidden collection, cannot be seen in the museum's main outdoor display because of weather conditions in the San Joaquin Valley.

Adventure Aviation in Tauranga, New Zealand uses a Bell 47G in a "M*A*S*H" paint scheme for tourist scenic flights.

Specifications (Bell 47G-3B)

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 ft² (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 nm (245 mi, 395 km)
Rate of climb: 860 ft/min (4.37 m/s)

Armament
2 .30 caliber M37C machine guns on the XM1 Armament Subsystem or 2 7.62mm M60C machine guns on the M2 Armament Subsystem.

8-tube launchers for 2.75" FFARs.

Various other systems tested by the US including multiple tube 2.75" FFAR launchers, grenade launchers, modified infantry "Bazookas", small napalm canisters, and even a system capable of launching 4 Nord SS.10 anti-tank missiles.

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 the M*A*S*H television series, and the Whirlybirds TV series (1957–1959).