Bell 47 H-1

The Bell 47 is a legendary early-generation single-engine light helicopter that first flew in 1946. The Bell 47 was manufactured in various guises right through to 1974, and the military version was designated the Bell H-13 Sioux. Often used by militaries for medical evacuation from the battlefield, the Sioux shot to fame via the iconic TV series M*A*S*H, where the entire title sequence and many episodes centred around the delivery of casualties via the Sioux. It was the civilian version of this helicopter, the Bell-47D, which first introduced the type’s signature bubble canopy.

The civilian Bell 47 achieved a number of achievements, including being the first helicopter to fly over the Alps. A number of helicopters were also acquired by NASA, who used them to simulate the Lunar Lander and were flown by the Apollo astronauts. The final civilian versions of the Bell 47, the 47H-1 and 47J were both three-seat and four-seat versions that were equipped with an enclosed cabin and fuselage, giving them a distinctive appearance.

We are very pleased to announce that an extremely rare Bell-47H-1 registration C-FJWF will be appearing on static display at this year’s Air Tattoo.

Photo Credit: Tom Jones