The Bell 47 is a single-rotor single-engine light helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It was based on the third Bell 30 prototype, which was the company’s first helicopter designed by Arthur M. Young. The 47 became the first helicopter certified for civilian use on 8 March 1946.

47G-2 version – powered by the Lycoming VO-435 engine. Produced under license by Westland Aircraft as the Sioux for the UK military.

General characteristics

Crew: 1 or 2
Capacity: 1 passenger or 2 litters (1,057 lb (479 kg) payload)
Length: 31 ft 7 in (9.63 m)
Height: 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Empty weight: 1,893 lb (859 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 2,950 lb (1,338 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming TVO-435-F1A six-cylinder vertically mounted horizontally-opposed air-cooled piston engine, 280 hp (210 kW)
Main rotor diameter: 37 ft 2 in (11.33 m)
Main rotor area: 1,085 sq ft (100.8 m2)

Performance

Maximum speed: 91 kn (105 mph, 169 km/h)
Cruise speed: 73 kn (84 mph, 135 km/h)
Range: 214 nmi (246 mi, 396 km)
Rate of climb: 860 ft/min (4.4 m/s)

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