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The Bell 47G is a three-seat light utility helicopter powered by a single Lycoming six-cylinder air-cooled
piston engine. The prototype of the Bell 47 was flown first on 8 December 1945. The Bell 47 was certified for
civilian use on 8 March 1946. Production deliveries of the Bell Model 47 helicopter began in 1946. The helicopter
was delivered to civil and military operators. The Bell 47 design developed over the years and on 20 January 1955,
Model 47G-2 was approved by the FAA. The Bell 47 was in production till 1976. About half of all Bell 47s have been built for U.S. services.
The U.S.A.F. designated its Bells as H-13s. The U.S. Army version of the Bell 47G is the OH-13H Sioux with dual controls,
stretcher kits and two radios. The OH-13H has been evaluated in the close-support role with machine guns and rockets.
U.S.Navy versions included the HTL-1 upto the HTL-7. The Bell 47 design developed over the years and was in production till
1976. Helicopters like the Bell 47G were common as cropsprayers. The Bell 47 was produced produced under license by Agusta
in Italy; Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan and Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator
for the Westland-Bell 47G-3 is B47G
On 6 March 2010,
the Bell 47 type certificates for Model 47H-1; 47B; 47B3; 47D1; 47D; 47G-2; 47G; 47 and 47E were transferred to Scott's-Bell 47 Inc.,
Le Sueur, Minnesota. Scott's intended 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. |
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On 15 April 1968, Westland-Bell 47G-3 Sioux AH.1 XT245 of the A.A.C. 1st RHA Air Troop was seen at Groningen Airport Eelde
(EHGG/GRQ) when in for fuel together with Sioux XT244 and XT246. The Bell 47 was ordered for all three UK services: 253
Bell 47G Sioux were built by Westland under licence from Agusta and Bell. After being phased out with the Army, Sioux AH.1
XT245 was converted for the civil market and registered D-HHRK as a Westland-Bell 47G-3B-1 in June 1978. On 11 July 1978,
Westland-Bell 47G-3B-1 D-HHRK was destroyed in an accident. |
