The venerable Bell 47
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: tain scotland
kenny mac
The Bell 47 spotted was mine. Sold to a guy from Wales who is going to learn to fly in it !
Replaced it with LHCI which is a G 5, so you should see it about.
Great machines and still able to get parts without too much trouble.
Replaced it with LHCI which is a G 5, so you should see it about.
Great machines and still able to get parts without too much trouble.
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 3
From: Milano, Italia
Bolkow wrote: I fondly remember the 80's in Miami, and a Bell 47 that operated pleasure flights off biscayne boulevard. It had floats fitted and another operated along with some jet rangers and a long ranger from a facility near to where Charlie Chalks seaplane facility was. I have tried an internet seach but cannot find if any of these are still operating. Can anyone help me with info or pics?
A Miami Helicopter Service Bell 47 conducting pleasure flights c. 1969
Joined: Mar 2007
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 659
Likes: 13
From: Under my coconut tree
Bolkow,
I made my solo in a Bell 47 D1 which had wooden blades, a cross tank and a Metal weight attached to the front of the right skid for balance during single pilot ops....
Scary? Nah.... I loved every minute
I made my solo in a Bell 47 D1 which had wooden blades, a cross tank and a Metal weight attached to the front of the right skid for balance during single pilot ops....
Scary? Nah.... I loved every minute
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 2
From: yorkshire uk
I did my crop spray training with Ag Rotors near Gettysburg Pennsylvania ( Are they still going ?) witha great old guy called Hank Whitfield . Flying was on a range of 47,s some of which were wooden blades . I think the ride was softer on the wood ...except for the time when 3 ft of trailing edge came off a blade on the Hiller . The vibration was so bad you could not read any instruments ....Hank took over for that bit !!!
ps He had well over 20k hrs on recips back then so i would love to know what he ended up at !!
ps He had well over 20k hrs on recips back then so i would love to know what he ended up at !!
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 3
From: Milano, Italia
Martinique seems to be the place for Bell 47 spraying!
PPRuNed from page 73 of the Nostalgia Thread:
French registered Bell 47 F-BSIA caught top-dressing in Martinique. No dates unfortunately:
And now .. this video (probably shown before somewhere) also from Martinique:
Ooh la la, les Français!
PPRuNed from page 73 of the Nostalgia Thread:
French registered Bell 47 F-BSIA caught top-dressing in Martinique. No dates unfortunately:
Ooh la la, les Français!
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: Pennsylvania, USA
Ag rotors
NigelH- Ag Rotors closed some years back. There is a still a company using the Bell 47 for spraying in the area still. We use our D1 for training. The blades are wood and they are on repaired "On condition". I have a spare set for when I send them out.
I love flying our one!
I love flying our one!
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: ˙ǝqɐq ǝɯ ʇ,uıɐ ʇɐɥʇ 'sɔıʇɐqoɹǝɐ ɹoɟ uʍop ǝpısdn ǝɯɐu ɹıǝɥʇ ʇnd ǝɯos
Hi,
Does anybody know the part number to order and where I can get the Bendix starter for a Bell47G5A (with Lyc VO-435-B1A).
ie the inertial coupling that engages in the engine ring gear to start the motor.
OOW
Does anybody know the part number to order and where I can get the Bendix starter for a Bell47G5A (with Lyc VO-435-B1A).
ie the inertial coupling that engages in the engine ring gear to start the motor.
OOW
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: ˙ǝqɐq ǝɯ ʇ,uıɐ ʇɐɥʇ 'sɔıʇɐqoɹǝɐ ɹoɟ uʍop ǝpısdn ǝɯɐu ɹıǝɥʇ ʇnd ǝɯos
Mechanics says the engine ring gear is damaged and is responsible for tearing up the bendix. Seems like a chicken and egg situation.
Does anyone have a ring gear for a Lyc-435-B1A for sale ?
Does anyone have a ring gear for a Lyc-435-B1A for sale ?
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,656
Likes: 0
From: fort sheridan, il
"Whirlybirds"
hope you all remember the tv show, "Whirlybirds"...circa 1960 Bell 47G and Bell 47J shown off to the very best advantage.
The whole show came about from the "I LOVE LUCY" episode in which she missed her ship sailing for europe. She hired a Bell 47 to fly her to the ship. The producers loved it and thought about how they could make the Bell 47 the star of a tv show...and voila: WHIRLYBIRDS was born
one of my favorite shows...starred Kenneth Tobey (he the star of such sci fi shows as THE THING and IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA)
hard to find now, but sometimes on bootleg DVD's available!
The whole show came about from the "I LOVE LUCY" episode in which she missed her ship sailing for europe. She hired a Bell 47 to fly her to the ship. The producers loved it and thought about how they could make the Bell 47 the star of a tv show...and voila: WHIRLYBIRDS was born
one of my favorite shows...starred Kenneth Tobey (he the star of such sci fi shows as THE THING and IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA)
hard to find now, but sometimes on bootleg DVD's available!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,796
Likes: 1
From: 1 Dunghill Mansions, Putney
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: ˙ǝqɐq ǝɯ ʇ,uıɐ ʇɐɥʇ 'sɔıʇɐqoɹǝɐ ɹoɟ uʍop ǝpısdn ǝɯɐu ɹıǝɥʇ ʇnd ǝɯos
Starter motor problem
I wonder if you have any experience with starting problems. I need help!
I have a Bell47G5A with Lyc-435-B1A with 24volt system and 'show of sparks' and I am having a lot of problems with the starting.
I've had this problem over 6 months! and I've only flown around 20 hours mostly due to these annoying problems.
Over the last 6 months I have gone through two starter motors and 3 starter drives aka 'bendix'. After fitting these starter drives - they work fine for a few starts (able to stay engaged until the motor starts) after which they eventually end up only ever turning the engine over one compression before the starter drive disengages.
With this problem I now have to try starting 6 to 10 times on average before getting the engine to fire. Even with the mags to OFF the starter only turns the engine one compression before the starter drive disengages.
A couple of licenced mechanics have checked the timing, replaced the starter motor, tried new starter drives and even replaced the ring gear but can't solve the problem.
Any ideas or recommendations on who to speak to?
If there were a modern alternative starter retrofittable to this helicopter I would buy it tomorrow!
OOW
I have a Bell47G5A with Lyc-435-B1A with 24volt system and 'show of sparks' and I am having a lot of problems with the starting.
I've had this problem over 6 months! and I've only flown around 20 hours mostly due to these annoying problems.
Over the last 6 months I have gone through two starter motors and 3 starter drives aka 'bendix'. After fitting these starter drives - they work fine for a few starts (able to stay engaged until the motor starts) after which they eventually end up only ever turning the engine over one compression before the starter drive disengages.
With this problem I now have to try starting 6 to 10 times on average before getting the engine to fire. Even with the mags to OFF the starter only turns the engine one compression before the starter drive disengages.
A couple of licenced mechanics have checked the timing, replaced the starter motor, tried new starter drives and even replaced the ring gear but can't solve the problem.
Any ideas or recommendations on who to speak to?
If there were a modern alternative starter retrofittable to this helicopter I would buy it tomorrow!
OOW
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 73
From: England
Shower of sparks I think.
Are the starting vibrators working properly? You can time the engine but if the vibrators do not work the ignition wil be advanced and give starting problems.
I watched a pilot attempt a start on a 300 which resulted in the starter arriving in kit form on the concrete. He said oh it does that about once a week!!!!!
On further questioning it became apparent that he was unaware of the vibrators existence, A check revealed neither was working, a quick fix and hey presto no more wrecked starters.
Put Shower of Sparks in to Google. There is a lot of information including the manual online
Are the starting vibrators working properly? You can time the engine but if the vibrators do not work the ignition wil be advanced and give starting problems.
I watched a pilot attempt a start on a 300 which resulted in the starter arriving in kit form on the concrete. He said oh it does that about once a week!!!!!
On further questioning it became apparent that he was unaware of the vibrators existence, A check revealed neither was working, a quick fix and hey presto no more wrecked starters.
Put Shower of Sparks in to Google. There is a lot of information including the manual online
Last edited by ericferret; 12th July 2013 at 19:57.