Specs
Prime
Contractor: Bell Helicopter Company
Weight (empty): 749
kg (1,650 lbs.)
Max weight: 1294
kg (2,850 lbs.)
Max altitude: 3,200
m (10,500 ft.)
Max cruise speed at sea level: 169
km/h (105 mph)
Climb rate: 262
meters/min. (860 ft./min.)
History
|
|
|
KTLA's
first "telecopter", a Bell 47.
Photo courtesy of Richard Hart, copyright
National Helicopter Service.
|
| |
Design
of the Bell 47 began in the 1930s, but a decade passed
before a prototype was completed in 1945. In 1946,
the Bell 47 became the first helicopter to be approved
for civilian use. By the time production stopped
in 1973, over 6,000 Bell 47s in several different
models had been produced. Bell 47s are still used
throughought the world, and are especially popular
for training helicopter pilots.
The
most well-known use of Bell 47s came during the Korean
War, when the helicopters were used by the United States
Army MASH (Moble Army Surgical Hospital) to evacuate
wounded soldiers from the battlefield. Scenes of the
Bell 47 being used for medical evacuations were often
shown on the television series "M*A*S*H*.
In
addition to its use in saving lives, the Bell 47 was
the first helicopter in the world to transmit TV signals
when in 1958, KTLA's "telecopter" made its
debut right here in Los Angeles. The Bell 47s usefulness
to the media doesn't stop with the purely practical—the
helicopters have also been featured as a favored mode
of transportation for movie heroes from Batman to Bond.
For an exhaustive list of movies, TV shows and videos
featuring the Bell 47, click
here.
The
Science Center's Bell 47G-5
N4799R
The Bell 47G-5 helicopter on display in the Air and Space
Gallery was donated to the Science Center by the citizens
of the city of Los Angeles. It flew as part of the Air
Support Division of the Los Angeles Police Department
until 1988. In that year, the LAPD replaced their piston-driven
helicopters with jet-powered ones.
Bell
47 Links
The
Bell 47 Helicopter
Bell 47 fans from around the world check in at this site
to find links, photos, history and news about the Bell
47. The site features information on Bell 47 events and
Fly-Ins, and also includes a Bell of the Month section
that highlights a different helicopter each month.
Airliners.net:
The Bell 47
Find quick stats on the Bell 47 as well as a great collection
of photos.
|
