Bell
Model 47
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Model 47G
Photo: Robert Deering 10/12/2008
Alliance Airport (AFW)
Fort Worth, Texas
The Bell 47 is a two-bladed, single engine, light helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. Based on the third Model 30 prototype, Bell's first helicopter designed by Arthur M. Young, the Bell 47 became the first helicopter certified for civilian use on 8 March 1946.  More than 5,600 Bell 47 aircraft were produced, including those produced under license by Agusta in Italy, Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan, and Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom. The Bell 47J Ranger is a modified version with a fully enclosed cabin and fuselage.

Early models varied in appearance, with open cockpits or sheet metal cabins, fabric covered or open structures, some with four-wheel landing gear. Later model D and Korean War H-13D and E types settled on a more utilitarian style. The most common model, the 47G introduced in 1953, can be recognized by the full bubble canopy, exposed welded-tube tail boom, saddle fuel tanks and skid landing gear.

The later three-seat 47H had an enclosed cabin with full cowling and monocoque tail boom. It was an attempt to market a "luxury" version of the basic 47G. Relatively few were produced.

Engines were Franklin or Lycoming vertically-mounted piston engines of 200 to 305 HP (150 to 230 kW). Seating varied from two (early 47s and the later G-5A) to four (the J and KH-4).

As of 2005, many are still in use as trainers and in agriculture.

In April 2011 there were 1068 registered with the FAA and 15 in the UK.

Bell 47s were produced in Japan by a Bell and Kawasaki venture; this led to the Kawasaki KH-4 variant, a four-seat version of the Model 47 with a cabin similar to the Bell 47J. It differed from the "J" in having a standard uncovered tailboom and fuel tanks like the G series. It was sold throughout Asia, and some were used in Australia.

In February 2010, the Bell 47 type certificates were transferred to Scott's Helicopter Services.

Source: Wikipedia 
Variants  
For Military Variants see H-13 and HTL  

Model 47
 Pre-production version, powered by a 178 hp (133 kW) Franklin piston engine.

Model 47A
 Improved version of the Bell 47, powered by a 157 hp (117 kW) Franklin O-335-1 piston engine.

Model 47B
 Equivalent to the military YR-13/HTL-1, powered by the 157 hp (117 kW) Franklin O-335-1.

Model 47B-3
 Agricultural/utility version with open crew positions. Also, offered in a version to the US Postal Service as the Bell Airmailer 

Model 47C

Model 47D
 First to appear with a molded "soap bubble" canopy.

Model 47D-1
 Introduced in 1949, it had an open tube work tail boom reminiscent of the Bell Model 30 and three seats.

Model 47E
 Powered by a 200 hp (150 kW) Franklin 6V4-200-C32 engine.

Model 47F

Model 47G
 Combines a 200 hp (149 kW) Franklin engine with the three-seat configuration of the 47D-1 and introduced the twin saddle-bag fuel tank configuration.

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

Model 47G-2A
 Powered by a 240 hp (179 kW) VO-435.

Model 47G-2A-1
 Wider cabin, improved rotor blades and increased fuel capacity.

Model 47G-3
 Powered by a supercharged 225 hp (168 kW) Franklin 6VS-335-A.

Model 47G-3B
 Powered by a turbocharged 280 hp (209 kW) Lycoming TVO-435.

Model 47G-4
 Three-seat helicopter powered by an Avco Lycoming VO-540 engine.

Model 47G-5
 A three-seat utility version. A two-seat agricultural version was later known as the Ag-5. The 47G-5 remained in production even after H & J production had ended.

Model 47H-1
 A three-seat version with an enclosed cabin and fuselage.

Model 47J Ranger
 A four-seat version powered by a VO-435 engine.

Model 47K
 Military two-seat training variant of the 47J.

Model 47B
 

Model 47G
 

Model 47H