(Agusta)-Bell 47G

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. Production deliveries of the Bell Model 47 helicopter began in 1946. The helicopter was delivered to civil and military operators. 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.

On 15 April 1968, Westland-Bell 47G-3 Sioux AH.1 XT246 of the A.A.C. 1st RHA Air Troop was seen at Eelde airfield in the Netherlands 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 were uninjured.

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