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.
On 15 April 1968, Westland-Bell 47G-3 Sioux AH.1 XT246 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 XT245. The Bell 47 was ordered for all three UK services: 253 Bell 47G Sioux were built by Westland under licence
from Agusta and Bell. On 4 September 1969, in service with the Army Air Corps 1st Royal Horse Artillery Air Troop, Sioux AH.1 XT246 was destroyed in
an accident: the pilot became disorientated in hill fog while attempting a precautionary landing at Gayton, Aden, Yemen,
due to bad weather. The aircraft struck the ground and caught fire. The crew was uninjured.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
