99 Agusta-Bell 47 Sioux AH-1
The Bell 47 first flew on 8th December 1945 and entered service with the US military in 1946. In 1949 it held the altitude record for a helicopter with a height of 18,500 feet. It went on to serve with much success during the 1950s in Korea (M*A*S*H) and the 1950s to 1970s in Vietnam.
It entered service with the British Military in 1964 when the Army bought 30 Bell 47s, now called the Sioux, from Agusta in Italy, followed by a further 250 built by Westland Helicopters in Yeovil. These were all designated Sioux AH1. A further 15 were built as AH2 and these went to the RAF for use as training helicopters; they had a different radio fit and extra flight instruments.
The Sioux has a 6-cylinder Lycoming TVO 435-B1A engine which is turbocharged and produces 270 bhp. The maximum speed is 91 knots / 105 mph and the cruising speed is about 70 knots. This gives the Sioux a range of 250 nautical miles and an endurance of 2 hours 30 mins.
They remained in service with the British Military until June 1977. The Sioux was extremely versatile and was used in many roles in the UK, Germany, the Middle East and the Far East. Roles included: Air Observation Post (AOP) for the Royal Artillery, local reconnaissance, casualty evacuation, light liaison, under slung loads, operations from ships, pilot training and photography.
The Historic Army Aircraft Flight’s Sioux is XT131 which arrived at Middle Wallop in 1964 as a training aircraft and has remained ever since.
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Our Sioux XT131
Our aircraft, airframe number 1540, was built by Agusta in 1964 under license from Bell Helicopters as an Augusta-Bell 47G-3B. The aircraft is referred to as the Scout AH-1 model by the Army Air Corps and has the serial number XT131.
July 1964 XT131 arrived at Middle Wallop as a training aircraft and has remained ever since.
1975 and 1976 with Advanced Rotary Wing Flight, Middle Wallop.
Feburuary 1978 transferred to 666 Squadron, Alanbrooke Barracks, Yorkshire.
Flew to Wroughton for stoage / disposal.
1979 to Historic Aircaft Flight
Transferred to D and T Squadron, Middle Wallop
ADDITIONAL CONTENT TO BE ADDED FROM XL812 LOG BOOKS AND MAINTAINANCE RECORDS
XT131 was registered as G-CICN on the UK civil aviation register in November 2013.
Technical Information and Development
| Main Rotor Diameter | 11.28 metres (37 feet 0 inches) |
| Length | 11.63 metres (31 feet 7 inches) |
| Height | 2.95 metres (9 feet 8 inches) |
| Weight, Empty | 859 kg (1,893 lb) |
| Weight, Max Take Off | 1,338 kg (2,950 lb) |
| Cruising Speed | 135 km/h (84 mph) |
| Max Speed | 169 km/h (105 mph) |
| Rate of Climb | 4.4 metres/second (860 feet/minute) |
| Service Ceiling | 4,900 metres (16,100 feet) |
| Range | 439 km (273 miles) |
| Power Plant | Lycoming TVO 435-B1A 270 shp (201 kW) |
The Sioux AH-1 is a development of the Bell 47 helicopter which first flew in December 1945 and entered service with the US military during 1946. Over 5,600 Bell 47s were produced by Bell Helicopter and by Agusta in Italy, Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan and Westland in the UK. Many different models were operated by the US military for over three decades in a varitey of roles including observation, reconnaissance, search and rescue, and medevac. In 1949 it held the altitude record for a helicopter with a height of 18,500 feet and it served with much success during the 1950s in Korea and in the 1950s to 1970s in Vietnam. The most common model is the Bell 47G which was introduced in 1953 and incorporated a wider cabin, three seats, a more powerful turbocharged engine, improved rotor blades and increased fuel capacity.
The Sioux AH-1 is a three- seet observation and basic training helicopter. It can be recognised by the ‘full soap bubble canopy’, exposed welded tail boom , saddle fuel tanks and skid landing gear. The fuel is fed from the two high mounted external tanks to the engine located behind the cockpit and under the rotor head. The aircraft has a single two-bladed rotor with short stabilising minor blades.
The aircraft is powered by a 6-cylinder Lycoming TVO 435-B1A piston engine which is turbocharged and produces 270 bhp. The maximum speed is 91 knots / 105 mph and the cruising speed is about 70 knots. This gives the Sioux a range of 250 nautical miles and an endurance of 2 hours 30 mins.
The Bell 47G-3B was ordered by the British Army as the Sioux to meet specification H.240. Westland licensed production of the aircraft from Agusta in order to comply with the terms of a license they had with Sikorski that prevented it from building a US competitor’s aircraft. The first contract was for 200 helicopters. The initial 50 helicopters were built by Agusta at Gallarate in Italy. A total of 250 Sioux were built by Westland in Yeovil. The Westland version of the Sioux AH-1 made its maiden flight on 9 March 1965. Some 15 Sioux were built as the AH-2 model and used by the RAF as training helicopters between 1966 and 1982. The RAF version they had a different radio fit and extra flight instruments.
The aircraft entered service with the Army Air Corps in 1964. It remained in service until June 1977. The Sioux was extremely versatile and was used in many roles in the UK, Germany, the Middle East and the Far East. Roles included: Air Observation Post (AOP) for the Royal Artillery, local reconnaissance, casualty evacuation, light liaison, under slung loads, operations from ships, pilot training and photography. A small number of Sioux were also used by 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron of the Royal Marines between 1965 and 1975.
Gallery
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