Bell 47 Sioux to return to production

[NutLoose]

Cheap and cheerful with gas turbine update, modern panel and composite blades, previously served the Army well too.


(SB47) Scott’s – Bell 47, Inc. (SB47) became the talk of Heli Expo 2013 today with their announcement that they will return the Model 47 to production as a new turbine powered helicopter with the Rolls Royce RR300 engine. The model will be named the 47GT-6. This historic announcement was made today at 12:30PM on day 1 of the Heli Expo 2013 show in Las Vegas, NV.

Don Maguire, SB47's Director of Customer Support & Services, and a former Bell 47 mechanic & pilot himself, made the announcement from their Heli Expo booth #N4712. He stated that the 47GT-6 will be based upon the 47G-3B-2A type design, modified by STC to incorporate the RR300 engine. The STC will also include a new, modern Instrument Panel similar to that currently being developed by SB47 for use on the piston driven fleet of Bell 47 helicopters still in service. Use of the 47G-3B-2A platform takes advantage of the 3,200 lb MGW with external load that model was originally certificated for. The helicopter will also incorporate other improvements including Composite Main Rotor Blades, LED Exterior Lighting and new Interiors, plus SB47 hopes to drive down operating cost to market leading numbers through the use of modern drive train technologies. Mr Maguire said they expect to start deliveries in 2016 and will be taking orders for 2016, 2017 & 2018 at the Heli Expo show. He also confirmed that the 2013 list price is $750,000 and that all orders received by the end of this month will take advantage of a zero price escalation between now & 2016. At the end of this launch customer program, the list price is expected to be announced at around $820,000 in 2016.

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[Martin the Martian]

Bell 47 with a turbine?

Isn't that an Alouette II?:E

[Buster Hyman]

Does this mean they can remake M*A*S*H*?

[CoffmanStarter]

If they use the turbine blades to smash the potatoes Buster :E

[Rosevidney1]

Turbine engines are much more reliable, 'tis true but I'm unconvinced with the use of composite main rotor blades. The old Sioux was good at chopping branches if it had to and the heavy metal blade was slow to lose energy when the donk stopped, giving time to set up autorotation.

[Gemini Twin]

Good point Rosevidney1 but the old metal bonding process is just too expensive these days and composites are a better bet. The blades will be weighted so the 47's superb auto characteristic will be maintained but you are correct, it will not be a good a tree trimmer as the original.

[Tankertrashnav]

The old Sioux was good at chopping branches if it had to

Typical pongo - didn't they tell you you were supposed to fly over the trees, not through them?

;)

[Genstabler]

Service ceiling with full fuel didn't permit flying over trees.

[ShyTorque]

GT-6 eh? They should "Triumph" with a name like that.