The venerable Bell 47
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: ˙ǝqɐq ǝɯ ʇ,uıɐ ʇɐɥʇ 'sɔıʇɐqoɹǝɐ ɹoɟ uʍop ǝpısdn ǝɯɐu ɹıǝɥʇ ʇnd ǝɯos
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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
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: London
Age: 64
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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.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Australia
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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
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: tipton
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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
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
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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 ...
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Appleby-in-Westmorland Cumbria England
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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.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Scotland, UK
Age: 47
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The 47 with Hields is now based at the Hawarden Base(Chester), I flew in it last week! PM if your interested in flying it, I'll put you in touch with the right people.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Oxfordshire
Age: 52
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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.
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: ˙ǝqɐq ǝɯ ʇ,uıɐ ʇɐɥʇ 'sɔıʇɐqoɹǝɐ ɹoɟ uʍop ǝpısdn ǝɯɐu ɹıǝɥʇ ʇnd ǝɯos
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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 !