The venerable Bell 47
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: ˙ǝqɐq ǝɯ ʇ,uıɐ ʇɐɥʇ 'sɔıʇɐqoɹǝɐ ɹoɟ uʍop ǝpısdn ǝɯɐu ɹıǝɥʇ ʇnd ǝɯos
Thanks for all the replies on the clutch issue. I have now done 20 tacho hours (30 starts) since that clutch slip occurence and have not had a repeat.
The 600hourly gearbox inspection was done only 100 tacho hours ago so hopefully it was just a bit of stickiness.
On another subject. I recently flew an British ex-miltary helicopter pilot and then his wife and kids. Weeks later he was astonished to hear the Bell47 doesnt have a rotorspeed warning horn and indicated he wouldnt have let me fly his wife and kids if he had known. He recommends one should be fitted if possible. He flies R22s these days where I am sure they really are essential.
Is this overreaction or do 47 flyers in general think it really is a good idea to have a system fitted? Can it be done? How would it be done?
OOW
The 600hourly gearbox inspection was done only 100 tacho hours ago so hopefully it was just a bit of stickiness.
On another subject. I recently flew an British ex-miltary helicopter pilot and then his wife and kids. Weeks later he was astonished to hear the Bell47 doesnt have a rotorspeed warning horn and indicated he wouldnt have let me fly his wife and kids if he had known. He recommends one should be fitted if possible. He flies R22s these days where I am sure they really are essential.
Is this overreaction or do 47 flyers in general think it really is a good idea to have a system fitted? Can it be done? How would it be done?
OOW
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: London
Audible MR low speed warning
OOW,
In my humble opinion your passenger was totally over reacting.
I would be worried about his reliance on a warning which, lets face it, could go wrong.
I have my own audible warning devices, I call them ears. My back ups are my eyes when checking the rotor speed dial.
Tune yourself into your aircraft and you will be able to tell if things like RRPM are not where they should be.
Hmmmm......Zen and the art of helicopter flying.
It could be a winner.
In my humble opinion your passenger was totally over reacting.
I would be worried about his reliance on a warning which, lets face it, could go wrong.
I have my own audible warning devices, I call them ears. My back ups are my eyes when checking the rotor speed dial.
Tune yourself into your aircraft and you will be able to tell if things like RRPM are not where they should be.
Hmmmm......Zen and the art of helicopter flying.
It could be a winner.
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,957
Likes: 0
From: Australia
B47's are high inertia
R22's like many others are LOW inertia.
In that situation an audio and visual cue has proven useful.
High inertia blades keep on flappin man, an' if you haven't noticed that they was slowin' down, as Lord Mount says, then you orta be in the loony bin.
I am dismayed, my ab-initio instructor was also ex Brit Army and there is absolutely no f'n way he would make that comment.
Tell that to your over stressing empiracle dogs body.
The only thing that might help on the '47 panel is a low oil pressure warning, audio or visual.
Did you notice that Frank puts his Oil Pressure gauge right where you can see it, - every time - with the quickest flick of the eye, but the '47, it is somewhere over there.
It is the only thing that keeps you alive.
cheere tet
R22's like many others are LOW inertia.
In that situation an audio and visual cue has proven useful.
High inertia blades keep on flappin man, an' if you haven't noticed that they was slowin' down, as Lord Mount says, then you orta be in the loony bin.
I am dismayed, my ab-initio instructor was also ex Brit Army and there is absolutely no f'n way he would make that comment.
Tell that to your over stressing empiracle dogs body.
The only thing that might help on the '47 panel is a low oil pressure warning, audio or visual.
Did you notice that Frank puts his Oil Pressure gauge right where you can see it, - every time - with the quickest flick of the eye, but the '47, it is somewhere over there.
It is the only thing that keeps you alive.
cheere tet
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: tipton
Looking for Bell 47 for training, UK
Guys, I have looked through the sticky but cant see an uptodate answer, so...
I have a f/w ATPL but fancy adding a PPL (H) to my list of ways of shedding cash. I want to learn on a Bell 47, but can't find one in the UK being used as a trainer. Does anyone know of one? My alternative is a Schweitzer 300 at Bournemouth...not quite the same!
david
I have a f/w ATPL but fancy adding a PPL (H) to my list of ways of shedding cash. I want to learn on a Bell 47, but can't find one in the UK being used as a trainer. Does anyone know of one? My alternative is a Schweitzer 300 at Bournemouth...not quite the same!
david
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,711
Likes: 1
From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Have you tried Alan Mann Helicopters at Fairoaks? They certainly used to do PPL(H) training in a Bell 47.
Anyway, there's nowt wrong with a Schweizer!!!
Cheers
Whirls
Anyway, there's nowt wrong with a Schweizer!!!
Cheers
Whirls
Better red than ...
Joined: Aug 2004
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 1,415
Likes: 0
From: Appleby-in-Westmorland Cumbria England
As far as I know FAST at Thruxton and Hields at Sherburn for the 47G3. There are very few in the UK and more in the USA.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Oxfordshire
Have you thought about buying a B47? We have one coming up for sale soon, be it on the N reg, but shouldn't be a problem with DofT.
You could do your PPL(H) then hour build, have a great deal of fun then sell it if need be.
You could do your PPL(H) then hour build, have a great deal of fun then sell it if need be.
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: ˙ǝqɐq ǝɯ ʇ,uıɐ ʇɐɥʇ 'sɔıʇɐqoɹǝɐ ɹoɟ uʍop ǝpısdn ǝɯɐu ɹıǝɥʇ ʇnd ǝɯos
Just dont rely on Bell for spare parts. A new blade for a 47 is now US$179000.
Thats each! Up from US$42000 each in 2008
Wonder how that will affect getting insurance for a 47?
Thanks Bell !
Thats each! Up from US$42000 each in 2008
Wonder how that will affect getting insurance for a 47?
Thanks Bell !
