The Bell H-13 Sioux was a single-engine single-rotor light helicopter built by Bell Helicopter. Westland Aircraft manufactured the Sioux under license for the British military as the Sioux AH.1 and HT.2.
Video Bell H-13 Sioux
Development
In 1947, the United States Army Air Forces (later the United States Air Force) ordered the improved Bell Model 47A. Most were designated YR-13 and three winterized versions were designated YR-13A. The United States Army first ordered Bell 47s in 1948 under the designation H-13. These would later receive the name Sioux.
Initially, the United States Navy procured several Bell 47s, designated HTL-1, between 1947 and 1958. The United States Coast Guard evaluated this model, and procured two HTL-1s for multi-mission support in the New York Harbor. The most common U.S. Navy version of the 47 was designated the HTL-4, and dispenses with the fabric covering on the tail boom. The U.S. Coast Guard procured three HTL-5s in 1952 (similar to the HTL-4 but powered by a Franklin O-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 H-13 was used as an observation helicopter early in the Vietnam War, before being replaced by the OH-6 Cayuse in 1966.
The Bell 47 was ordered by the British Army as the Sioux to meet specification H.240, with licensed production by Westland Helicopters. In order to comply with the terms of its licence agreement with Sikorsky Aircraft, which prevented it building a U.S. competitor's aircraft, Westland licensed the Model 47 from Agusta, who had purchased a license from Bell. the first contract was for 200 helicopters. The first 50 helicopters of the contract were built by Agusta at Gallarate in Italy followed by 150 built by Westland at Yeovil. The first Westland Sioux made its maiden flight on 9 March 1965.
Maps Bell H-13 Sioux
Design
The Sioux is a three-seat observation and basic training helicopter. In 1953 the Bell 47G design was introduced. It can be recognized by the full "soap bubble" canopy (as its designer Arthur M. Young termed it), exposed welded-tube tail boom, saddle fuel tanks and skid landing gear. In its UH-13J version, based on the Bell 47J, it had a metal-clad tail boom and fuselage and an enclosed cockpit and cabin.
The H-13 and its military variants were often equipped with medical evacuation panniers, one to each skid, with an acrylic glass shield to protect the patient from wind.
A single 260 hp Lycoming VO-435 piston engine was fitted to the 47G variant. Fuel was fed from two high-mounted external tanks. A single two-bladed rotor with short inertial stabilising minor blades was used on the Sioux.
Variants
Military
- YR-13/HTL-1
- 28 Bell 47A helicopters procured by the United States Army Air Forces for evaluation. The YR-13 was powered by a 175 hp (130 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. Redesignated YH-13A in 1948.
- 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 200 hp (149 kW) 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.
- YH-13C
- One H-13B used as engineering testbed. Fitted with skid undercarriage and open, uncovered tailboom.
- H-13C
- 16 H-13B aircraft converted to carry external stretchers in 1952, with skid landing gear and open tail boom of YH-13C.
- H-13D
- Army two-seat version based on commercial model 47D-1, with skid landing gear, stretcher carriers, and Franklin O-335-5 engine. 87 built.
- OH-13E
- H-13D configuration with three-seat aircraft with dual controls. 490 built.
- 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
- Three-seater based on commercial model 47-G. Introduced a small elevator on the tailboom. 265 delivered to US Army.
- OH-13H/UH-13H
- Based on 47G-2. Equipped with a 250 hp (186 kW) Lycoming VO-435 engine. At least 453 acquired by US Army. UH-13Hs were used by the U.S. Air Force.
- UH-13J
- Two Bell 47J-1 Rangers acquired by the U.S. Air Force for VIP transport of the U.S. President. Originally designated H-13J.
- OH-13K
- Two converted H-13Hs with a larger diameter rotor and a 225 hp (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.
- 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 based on 47G-3B to replace the OH-13H. 265 received by US Army.
- TH-13T
- Two-seat instrument trainer for the U.S. Army based on the 47G-3B-1, powered by 270 hp (201 kW) Lycoming TVO-435-D1B. 411 purchased.
- Sioux AH.1
- General purpose helicopter for the British Army, 50 built by Agusta (Agusta-Bell 47G-3B1) and 250 built by Westland (Westland-Agusta-Bell 47G-3B1). A small number also used by 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron of the Royal Marines.
- Sioux HT.2
- Training helicopter for the Royal Air Force, 15 built by Westland.
- Texas Helicopter M74 Wasp
- Texas Helicopter Corporation conversion of OH-13E helicopters for agricultural use, powered by 200 hp (150 kW) Lycoming TVO-435-A1E engines.
- Texas Helicopter M74A
- Texas Helicopter Corporation conversion of OH-13H helicopters for agricultural use, powered by 240 hp (180 kW) Lycoming TVO-435 engines.
- Texas Helicopter M79S Wasp II
- Texas Helicopter Corporation conversion for agricultural use, powered by 270 hp (200 kW) Lycoming TVO-435 engines.
- Texas Helicopter M79T Jet Wasp II
- Texas Helicopter Corporation conversion of Bell 47G helicopters for agricultural use, powered by 420 hp (310 kW) Soloy-Allison 250-C20S engines.
Operators
- Argentina
- Argentine Army
- Argentine Navy
- Argentine Naval Prefecture
- Australia
- Australian Army
- Austria
- Austrian Air Force
- Brazil
- Brazilian Air Force
- Canada
- Royal Canadian Navy
- Chile
- Chilean Navy
- Colombia
- Colombian Air Force
- Cuba
- Air Defense Force
- Ecuador
- Ecuadorian Air Force
- France
- French Air Force
- Germany
- German Army
- Luftwaffe
- Greece
- Hellenic Air Force
- Iceland
- Icelandic Coast Guard
- Indonesia
- Indonesian Air Force
- India
- Indian Air Force
- Italy
- Italian Air Force
- Italian Army
- Italian Navy
- Jamaica
- Jamaica Defence Force
- Japan
- Japan Ground Self Defence Force
- Japan Maritime Self Defence Force
- Malaysia
- Royal Malaysian Air Force
- Malta
- Maltese Air Force
- Mexico
- Mexican Air Force
- Mexican Navy
- New Zealand
- Royal New Zealand Air Force
- Norway
- Royal Norwegian Air Force
- Paraguay
- Paraguayan Air Force
- Peru
- Peruvian Air Force
- Peruvian Navy
- Philippines
- Philippine Air Force
- Senegal
- Senegalese Air Force
- South Yemen
- South Yemeni Air Force
- Spain
- Spanish Air Force
- Spanish Army
- Spanish Navy
- Thailand
- Royal Thai Air Force
- Turkey
- Turkish Air Force
- United Kingdom
- British Army Army Air Corps
- United States
- United States Air Force
- United States Army
- United States Navy
- United States Coast Guard
- Uruguay
- Uruguayan Air Force
- Uruguayan Naval Aviation
- Venezuela
- Venezuelan Air Force
- Zambia
- Zambian Air Force
Surviving aircraft
Canada
- RCN 1387 - HTL-6 on static display at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, Ontario.
Germany
- 58-5348 - OH-13H on static display at the Hubschraubermuseum Bückeburg in Bückeburg, Lower Saxony.
- XT548 - Sioux AH.1 on static display at the Flugausstellung Hermeskeil in Hermeskeil, Rhineland-Palatinate.
New Zealand
- The Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum was donated an RNZAF Bell 47G3-B2 when the fleet was retired from service and replaced by A-109s in the rotary wing training.
Pakistan
- The Army Museum of Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi has an OH-13 hanging from the ceiling.
South Africa
- XT562 - Bell 47 on static display at Port Elizabeth Branch of the South African Air Force Museum in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.
South Korea
- H-13 on display at the War Memorial of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Spain
- The Polytechnic University of Catalonia has an OH-13H on display in the Aeronautical Laboratory of the School of Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering of Terrassa, Terrassa, Spain.
Thailand
- 56-2182/H7-9/15 - OH-13H on display at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum in Bangkok, Thailand.
United Kingdom
- XT148 - Sioux AH.1 under restoration at the North East Land, Sea and Air Museums in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.
- XT190 - Sioux AH.1 on static display at The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.
- XT200 - Sioux AH.1 on static display at the Newark Air Museum in Newark, Nottinghamshire.
United States
- 48-0796 - On display at the South Carolina Military Museum in Columbia, South Carolina. It is the first H-13B airframe, serial number 101, and came off the production line in mid-July 1948.
- 48-0845 - H-13C on display at the United States Army Aviation Museum in Enterprise, Alabama.
- 51-13934 - OH-13E on static display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.
- 51-14010 - OH-13E on static display at the U.S. Army Transportation Museum at Joint Base Langley-Eustis near Newport News, Virginia.
- 51-14062 or 51-14077 - OH-13E on static display at the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey in Teterboro, New Jersey.
- 51-14175 - OH-13E on display at the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.
- 51-14193 - OH-13E on display at the United States Army Aviation Museum in Enterprise, Alabama.
- 51-14218 - OH-13E on display at the United States Army Aviation Museum in Enterprise, Alabama.
- 52-7833 - OH-13G on display at the Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum in Horsham, Pennsylvania.
- 56-2217 - The Castle Air Museum at the former Castle AFB in Atwater, California has a Bell H-13 with the M*A*S*H paint scheme in their "Hidden aircraft collection".
- 63-9085 - OH-13S on display at the Texas Air & Space Museum in Amarillo, Texas. It wears a "M*A*S*H" paint scheme and is on loan from Amarillo College.
- 64-15338 - HTL-6/TH-13M painted as USMC 142394 on static display at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum in San Diego, California
- 64-15393 - OH-13S on static display at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York, New York.
- 65-8040 - TH-13T airworthy at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, Texas. It is painted as a H-13D.
- 67-15963 - The Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum, Pueblo, Colorado has a restored H-13G with a "M*A*S*H" paint scheme.
- 67-17053 - TH-13T on display at Hill Aerospace Museum in Ogden, Utah.
- 122952 - HTL-2 on display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.
- 128911 - HTL-4 on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida.
- 142377 - HTL-6 on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida.
- 145842 - TH-13N on display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.
- Unknown ID - Unknown variant airworthy at the Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida.
- The United States Army Medical Department Museum located on base at Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio, Texas, has a Bell 47 on display with other helicopters.
- H-13D on display at U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum, Huntsville, Alabama.
Specifications (Sioux AH.1)
Data from Newark Air Museum, Britains Small Wars.
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 3
- Length: 31 ft 7 in (9.63 m)
- Main rotor diameter: 2× 37 ft 0 in (11.3 m)
- Height: 9 ft 8 in (2.95 m)
- Gross weight: 2952 lb (1339 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming TVO-435-A1A, 260 hp (194 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 105 mph (169 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 84 mph (135 km/h)
- Range: 273 miles (439 km)
- Service ceiling: 16100 ft (4907 m)
Armament
- The OH-1 was capable of carrying twin M37C .30 caliber machine guns, or twin M60 machine guns. They rarely did so however, because according to a Military Channel documentary on the AH-1 attack helicopter ("World's Deadliest Aircraft" series), the guns' recoil was too great a strain on the engines.
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 television series, as well the Whirlybirds TV series (1957-1959).
See also
- Related development
- Agusta A.115
- Bell 47
- Bell 207 Sioux Scout
- Continental Copters El Tomcat
- H-13J Sioux
- Kawasaki KH-4
- Meridionali/Agusta EMA 124
- XH-13F (Bell 201)
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Hiller OH-23 Raven
- Hughes TH-55 Osage
- Sikorsky S-300
Notes
References
Footnotes
Bibliography
External links
- Bell 47.net
- Bell 47 Project: University of Toronto at the Wayback Machine (archived January 30, 2009)
- Model 47G specs from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft by Gerard Frawley
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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