ΑΝΤΙΛΟΓΟΣ ΧΑΝΙΩΝ

H-13 Sioux
	An OH-13 over RIAT, 2022
Role	Light observation helicopter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Bell Aircraft; Bell Helicopter
First flight	8 December 1945 (Bell 47 prototype)
Status	Retired
Primary users	United States Army; United States Air Force; United States Navy; British Army [Iran]
Number built	At least 2,407
Developed from	Bell 47
Variants	Bell 201
Developed into	Bell 207 Sioux Scout

The Bell H-13 Sioux is an American single-engine light helicopter built by Bell Helicopter and manufactured by Westland Aircraft under license for the British military as the Sioux AH.1 and HT.2. It was the first helicopter to be certified for civil use.^[2]

Development

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.^[3]

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.^[4] The Coast Guard procured two of Bell's Model 47G and designated them HUL-1G in 1959.^[4]

The H-13 was one of the principal helicopters used by the U.S. Army during the Korean War, with the H-13D variant being the most prevalent. During the war it was used in a wide variety of roles including observation, reconnaissance, and medivac. From its role in medevac flights, it gained the nickname "Angel of Mercy". It was also used as an observation helicopter early in the Vietnam War, before being replaced by the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse in 1966.

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. competitor's aircraft, Westland licensed the Model 47 from Agusta, who had purchased a license from Bell.^[5] 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.^[6]

Design

The Sioux is a single-engine single-rotor three-seat observation and basic training helicopter. In 1953 the Bell 47G design was introduced. It can be recognized by the full "soap bubble" canopy (as its designer Arthur M. Young termed it),^[7] exposed welded-tube tail boom, saddle fuel tanks and skid landing gear. In its UH-13J version, based on the Bell 47J, it had a metal-clad tail boom and fuselage and an enclosed cockpit and cabin.

The H-13 and its military variants were often equipped with medical evacuation panniers, one to each skid, with an acrylic glass shield to protect the patient from wind.

The development of the Sioux was helped greatly by Bell's implementation of a short weighted gyro-stabilizer bar at 90° beneath and to the main rotor. It had streamlined counterweights at both tips and was linked so it determined which plane the rotor was in and kept it horizontal.^[8] The stabilizer, which was connected to the cyclic pitch control, acted as a hinged flywheel using gyroscopic inertia to keep the rotor blades in plane and independent of fuselage movement due to wind. It ensured that the system had enough inertia due to flight as well, so autorotation would function in case of engine failure.^[9]

A single 260 hp Lycoming VO-435 piston engine was fitted to the 47G variant. Fuel was fed from two high-mounted external tanks. A single two-bladed rotor with short inertial stabilising minor blades was used on the Sioux.^[6]]

Specifications (Sioux AH.1)

3-view line drawing of the Bell YR-13

3-view line drawing of the Bell H-13G Sioux

Data from Newark Air Museum,^[102] Britains Small Wars.^[103]

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Capacity: 3
Length: 31 ft 7 in (9.63 m)
Height: 9 ft 8 in (2.95 m)
Gross weight: 2,952 lb (1,339 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming TVO-435-A1A six-cylinder, horizontally opposed piston, 260 hp (190 kW)
Main rotor diameter: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)

Performance

Maximum speed: 105 mph (169 km/h, 91 kn)
Cruise speed: 84 mph (135 km/h, 73 kn)
Range: 273 mi (439 km, 237 nmi)
Service ceiling: 16,100 ft (4,900 m)

Armament
Twin .30 in (7.62 mm) Machine guns^[b]

Popular culture

The H-13 has appeared, and played key roles, in many film and television productions. It has been associated with both the M*A*S*H TV series (1972–1983) and the film of the same name (1970), prominently featuring the H-13 in its opening credits, and played a central role in the series finale, which still holds the record as the highest rated single episode broadcast in America.^[105]^[106] The series helped popularize the H-13 as the helicopter most people now associate with the Korean War.^[107] The H-13 also played a key role in the Whirlybirds TV series (1957–1959).^[108]^[109]

Notes

^ In the military of the United States, the Bell 47 carried several designations prior to 1962. R-13 was the first designation by the United States Army Air Forces, while the Navy designated their training version as HTL. In 1948, the United States Air Force changed the designation to H-13 which was also adopted by the Army, adding the name Sioux. The Navy and Coast Guard designated utility models as HUL.
In 1962, under a joint designation system created by the Department of Defense, the designations for all of the helicopters were changed to a mission symbol followed by the vehicle type designator creating a two-letter prefix (OH, UH, XH, etc.), but the Bell 47 retained its original series number, 13 and the Army's popular name. To denote different models, a letter suffix was appended to the designation.^[10]
^ The OH-1 was capable of carrying twin M37C .30 caliber machine guns, or twin M60 machine guns.^[104] They rarely did so however, because according to a Military Channel documentary on the AH-1 attack helicopter ("World's Deadliest Aircraft" series), the guns' recoil was too great a strain on the engines.

[11] In the military of the United States, the Bell 47 carried several designations prior to 1962. R-13 was the first designation by the United States Army Air Forces, while the Navy designated their training version as HTL. In 1948, the United States Air Force changed the designation to H-13 which was also adopted by the Army, adding the name Sioux. The Navy and Coast Guard designated utility models as HUL.
In 1962, under a joint designation system created by the Department of Defense, the designations for all of the helicopters were changed to a mission symbol followed by the vehicle type designator creating a two-letter prefix (OH, UH, XH, etc.), but the Bell 47 retained its original series number, 13 and the Army's popular name. To denote different models, a letter suffix was appended to the designation.^[10]

[106] The OH-1 was capable of carrying twin M37C .30 caliber machine guns, or twin M60 machine guns.^[104] They rarely did so however, because according to a Military Channel documentary on the AH-1 attack helicopter ("World's Deadliest Aircraft" series), the guns' recoil was too great a strain on the engines.

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ΑΝΤΙΛΟΓΟΣ ΧΑΝΙΩΝ

Πέμπτη 20 Φεβρουαρίου 2025

Αεροπορία Στρατού, ελικόπτερα 1961-1985 Bell H-13 Sioux και άλλα τινά περί των τότε αεροσκαφών και πτήσεων,,.

Army AviatorΠΩΣ ΠΕΤΟΥΣΑΜΕ..

ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΑΕΡΟΠΟΡΙΑ ΣΤΡΑΤΟΥ

ΠΩΣ ΠΕΤΟΥΣΑΜΕ (4ο)

ΤΩΝ ΠΡΩΤΩΝ ΤΑ ΠΑΘΗΜΑΤΑ, ΤΩΝ ΔΕΥΤΕΡΩΝ ΓΕΦΥΡΙΑ.

Development

Design

Specifications (Sioux AH.1)

Popular culture

See also

Notes

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