Bell
H-13 / HTL
Sioux / Ranger
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UH-13D
Photo: Robert Deering 7/16/2014

American Helicopter Museum
Brandywine Airport (OQN)

West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Bell H-13 Sioux was a two-bladed, single engine, light helicopter built by Bell Helicopter. Westland Aircraft manufactured the Sioux under license for the British military as the Sioux AH.1 and HT.   

In 1947, the United States Army Air Forces (later the United States Air Force) ordered the improved Bell Model 47A. Most were designated YR-13 and three winterized versions were designated YR-13A. The United States Army first ordered Bell 47s in 1948 under the designation H-13. These would later receive the name Sioux.

Dwight D. Eisenhower became the first U.S. president to fly in a helicopter on July 12, 1957 using the H-13J. The Air Force purchased two modified H-13J's for evacuating the President to a remote command post in the event of a military confrontation with the Soviet Union. The H-13J also shuttled President Eisenhower to Washington's National Airport and his personal retreat in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Larger, more comfortable models soon replaced it in presidential transport duties.

The H-13 was used as observation helicopter early in the Vietnam War, before being replaced by the OH-6 Cayuse.

The Bell 47 was ordered by the British Army as the Sioux to meet specification H.240, with licensed production by Westland Helicopters. In order to comply with the terms of its licence agreement with Sikorsky Aircraft, which prevented it building a U.S. competitors aircraft, Westland licensed the Model 47 from Agusta, who had purchased a license from Bell. The first contract was for 200 helicopters. The first 50 helicopters of the contract were built by Agusta at Gallarate in Italy followed by 150 built by Westland at Yeovil. The first Westland Sioux made its maiden flight on 9 March 1965.

Variants
YR-13
 28 Bell 47A helicopters procured by the United States Army Air Forces for evaluation. The YR-13 was powered by a 175 hp (130 kW) Franklin O-335-1 piston engine. 1
YR-13A
3 YR-13 aircraft winterized for cold-weather testing in Alaska. Redesignated YH-13A in 1948.
H-13B
65 aircraft ordered in 1948 by the U.S. Army.  All Army versions were later named Sioux.
YH-13C
One H-13B used as engineering testbed. Fitted with skid undercarriage and open, uncovered tailboom.
H-13C
16 H-13B aircraft converted to carry external stretchers in 1952, with skid landing gear and open tail boom of YH-13C.
UH-13D
Army two-seat version based on commercial model 47D-1, with skid landing gear, stretcher carriers, and Franklin O-335-5 engine. 87 built.
OH-13E
H-13D configuration with three-seat aircraft with dual controls. 490 built.
XH-13F / Bell 201 
Modified Bell 47G powered by a Continental XT51-T-3 (Turbomeca Artouste) turboshaft.  The first Bell helicopter powered by a turbine engine.
OH-13G
Three-seater based on commercial model 47-G. Introduced a small elevator on the tailboom. 265 delivered to US Army.
OH-13H / UH-13H
Based on 47G-2. Equipped with a 250 hp (186 kW) Lycoming VO-435 engine. At least 453 acquired by US Army.  UH-13Hs were used by the U.S. Air Force.
UH-13J
Two Bell 47J-1 Rangers acquired by the U.S. Air Force for VIP transport of the U.S. President. Originally designated H-13J.
OH-13K
Two converted H-13Hs with a larger diameter rotor and a 225 hp (168 kW) Franklin 6VS-335 engine for test evaluation.
OH-13S
Three-seat observation helicopter based on 47G-3B to replace the OH-13H. 265 received by US Army.
TH-13T
Two-seat instrument trainer for the U.S. Army based on the 47G-3B-1, powered by 270 hp (201 kW) Lycoming TVO-435-D1B. 411 purchased.
Sioux AH.1
General purpose helicopter for the British Army, 50 built by Agusta (Agusta-Bell 47G-3B1) and 250 built by Westland (Westland-Augusta-Bell 47G-3B1).
Sioux HT.2
Training helicopter for the Royal Air Force, 15 built by Westland.

UH-13D
Photo: Robert Deering 7/16/2014
American Helicopter Museum
Brandywine Airport (OQN)
West Chester, Pennsylvania
 

UH-13J
Photo:  Robert Deering 10/18/2012
National Museum of the USAF
Wright-Patterson AFB (FFO)

Dayton, Ohio
 

TH-13S
Photo: Robert Deering 7/21/2018
Frontiers of Flight Museum
Dallas, Texas
Navy and Coast Guard Variants

Originally designed as a commercial helicopter, the HTL Sioux was acquired by the U.S. Navy for training purposes in the late 1940s, and were in use until retirement in April 1964.  HTLs were used in the Apollo program to familiarize astronauts with its auto-rotation sink rate which was similar to the Lunar Excursion Module

Initially, the United States Navy procured several Bell 47s, designated HTL-1, between 1947 and 1958. The United States Coast Guard evaluated this model, and procured two HTL-1s for multi-mission support in the New York Harbor. The most common U.S. Navy version of the 47 was designated the HTL-4, and dispenses with the fabric covering on the tail boom. The U.S. Coast Guard procured three HTL-5s in 1952 (similar to the HTL-4 but powered by a Franklin O-335-5 engine) and used these until 1960.  The Coast Guard procured two of Bell's Model 47G and designated them HUL-1G in 1959.

SOURCE: National Museum of Naval Aviation & Wikipedia

HTL-1
 10 Bell 47A helicopters procured by the U. S. Navy for evaluation as trainers. The HTL-1 was powered by a 175 hp (130 kW) Franklin O-335-1 piston engine.
HTL-2
US Navy equivalent of the commercial Model 47D. 12 built.
HTL-3
US Navy equivalent of the commercial Model 47E, powered by a 200 hp (149 kW) Franklin 6V4-200-C32 engine. Nine built.
HTL-4 / TH-13L
The most common U.S. Navy version.  Dispenses with the fabric covering on the tail boom.
TL-5
Utilized a Lycoming O-335-5 engine.
HTL-6 / TH-13M
Incorporated a small movable elevator.
HUL-1G / HH-13Q
Used by the U.S. Coast Guard for search and rescue.
HUL-1M / UH-13R
Powered by an Allison YT63-A-3 turbposhaft engine.

HTL-4
Photo: Robert Deering 4/18/2015
National Museum of Naval Aviation
NAS Pensacola (NPA)
Pensacola, Florida