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. Helicopters like the Bell 47G were common
as cropsprayers. The spraying equipment was placed when needed. The Bell 47 was produced under license
by Agusta in Italy; Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan and Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom. Agusta built over 1200
Agusta-Bell 47 helicopters, including the Agusta-Bell 47G. The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the Bell 47G-1
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 23 September 1987, the 1963-built Bell 47G-1 OO-MMT was seen at
Groningen Airport Eelde (EHGG/GRQ). At that time, the helicopter was operated on pipeline control flights over the Netherlands, commissioned by Gasunie.
the life
cycle of the airframe is, as far as it could be determined, recorded in detail in the table below:
date
registration
details
1956
constructed as Bell 47G c/n 1708 by Bell Aircraft Corporation in Buffalo, New York, USA;
25 September 1957
D-HABO
registered in Germany
1962
D-HABO
registration D-HABO cancelled as exported to the Netherlands
7 August 1962
PH-AAH
registered PH-AAH as a Bell 47G-2C-4 by Aero Ypenburg NV, Rotterdam
5 August 1966
PH-AAH
registered by NV Luchtvaartmaatschappij General Aviation, Rotterdam. Christened 'Marie Thomas'
24 May 1971
PH-AAH
registered by De Dump, Gouda.
1 July 1971
PH-AAH
severely damaged in a hard landing in Metten, Belgium
2 July 1971
PH-AAH
registration PH-AAH was cancelled
17 August 1971
OO-MMT
registered by Heli-Service (Mechelen), Grimbergen
1971
OO-MMT
operated as a cropsprayer, commissioned by Vertongen
1972 - 1987
OO-MMT
after the King Air Holding' Hughes 269C PH-KAH crashed on 15 February 1972,
and its replacement Bell 47G-2 OO-ART crashed on 1 March 1972, the HeliService' Bell 47G-1 OO-MMT and Bell 47G-2 OO-RDG
replaced the aircraft on the pipeline control flights over the Netherlands, commissioned by Gasunie
mid seventies
OO-MMT
temporary leased to Brussels Airways to conduct air baptisms
16 July 1987
OO-MMT
registration OO-MMT was cancelled as exported to France. However
Bell 47G-1 OO-MMT was flown to its new owner in France on 15 July 1987, the OO-MMT was seen at Groningen Airport Eelde on 23 September 1987!?
20 May 1988
F-GGFN
registered F-GGFN as a Bell 47G-1 in France by SA Helifrance
27 June 1991
F-GGFN
registered by Maurice Crouail
13 April 1992
F-GGFN
crashed at Lac de Bournos on 13 April 1992; registration F-GGFN was cancelled
23 June 2000
F-GGFN
registration F-GGFN was restored and registered by Aquitaine Helicopere
6 June 2002
F-GGFN
registered by Fabrications Distributions Services Sarl
27 October 2009
F-GGFN
registered by Heli MTO Sarl, operated by Heliclub de l'Hortus.
3 February 2010
F-GGFN
substantially damaged after hitting a hangar during approach to Saint-Vincent de Barbeyrargues helipad,
Cournonsec, France. Registration F-GGFN was cancelled as destroyed
3 March 2022
F-GGFN
however given as destroyed, the airframe was rebuilt and registration F-GGFN was restored to
the French aircraft register by Marc Touchat. Bell 47G F-GGFN is back in service, flying from Montpellier Mediterranee (LFMT/MPL)
