Bell 47
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
The Bell 47 was the first helicopter to be certified for civil use, in May 1946. It was largely designed by Arthur M. Young who assigned his helicopter patents to, and joined Bell Helicopter in 1941. Over 5,600 were produced through 1974 including 1200 built under license in Italy, 239 in Japan, and 239 in the UK. Early models had open cockpits or sheet metal cabins, but the most common model 47G , introduced in 1953, can be recognized by the full bubble canopy, exposed welded-tube tail boom, and saddle fuel tanks. Later models H and J and had a regular cabin with full cowling and a tail boom of monocoque construction. Engines were Franklin or Lycoming horizontally-opposed piston engines of 200 to 305 HP (150 to 230 kW). Seating varied from 2 to 4.
This was the helicopter popularized in the 1957–59 television series The Whirlybirds, and later the M*A*S*H movie and television series. A design, as well as a utilitarian success, it was added to the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art of New York in 1984. Many are still in use as trainers and in agriculture (as of 2005).
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Specifications (Bell 47G)
General
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 3
- Length: 9.63 m (31.6 ft)
- Height: 2.83 m (9.28 ft)
- Rotor diameter: 11.32 m (37.2 ft)
- Main rotor disk area: 100.8 m2 (1085 ft2)
- Empty: 858 kg (1893 lb)
- Maximum takeoff: 1340 kg (2950 lb)
- Powerplant: one Lycoming TVO-435-F1A flat six piston engine, 210 kW (280 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 169 km/h (105 mi/h, 91 kt)
- Cruise speed: 135 km/h (84 mi/h, 73 kt) at 1,525 m (5,000 ft)
- Range: 395 km (245 mi, 214 nm) at 1,830 m (6,000 ft)
- Hover ceiling: 5,400 m IGE; 3900 m OGE (17,700 IGE; 12,700 OGE ft)
- Rate of climb: 262 m/min (860 ft/min)
External links
- Story of Arthur M. Young (http://www.modelaircraft.org/museum/bio/Young.pdf) and the development of the Model 47- in PDF format with photographs.
- Bell 47 (http://cellmath.med.utoronto.ca/B47/47Home.html) enthusiast site attempts to cover all aspects of the Model 47.
- Model 47G (http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/Exhibits/AirAndSpace/AirAndAircraft/Bell47G5/Bell47G5.php) museum site.
- Model 47G specs (http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=70) from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft by Gerard Frawleyja:ベル47 (ヘリコプター)
