Chopperpilot47,
Hmmm... Bell 47 D1
I guess my thinking on Bell 47 was that of very old and out of support from factory. Maybe 50-60 years old I guess. I owned a Hiller UH-12B back in 1978. I was too young and could not find an instructor back then so I sold it without flying it. Probably should have kept it. It was old back then and now its 27 years older.
I understand wood blades are hard to keep balanced, but they do have unlimited life (on condition).
Do you train in the older model?
Are parts still available?
And one other question if you have a moment.

An old mechanic told me that you can remove the Bell flybar and throw it away. Saves 65lbs or so.
Is that true?
Thanks
slowrotor

Slowrotor. We have 2 D1's, a G model and a G3B1. All the parts are still available although some can be expensive. The age of the helicopter means nothing. The only thing on our helos of any age is the data plate. Everything else has been replaced many times. Two of our helos were completely rebuilt in the last year and the third is just about to go in so everything will be zero time.

The wood blades are not really wood. There is wood in them but they have a metal spar, different types of wood in the core a fibreglass coating, gel coat, stainless steel leading edges and steel butt plates and straps. They are easy to balance and track and are still available at a reasonable price.

We use the D1's and G for training. You can have the stabiliser bar removed with an approved mod but I don't recommend it. The helicopter becomes a bit twitchy and the wear can be high. Not worth the effort of getting it converted.

We use Bell 47's for training because we like them but they not cheap to run. We think the direct operating cost is around $170 per hour. It would be a lot less for a private owner. We do 1,000 hours a year per helicopter so maintenance is an issue for us although we now do it in house.

There are still over 1,000 Bell 47's flying in the USA so that tells you something.

Regards,

Chopperpilot47

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...tchCountry.jpg

Chopperpilot47'
Those guys look nice.
I went to your website but could not get anything to work other than the home page.
I would like to take a intro lesson in the Bell 47.
Maybe you could recommend a company on the west coast if there is any.

There is a company in B.C. Canada thats pretty close, but I thought the price was ....well a little high at $300 or more, I think. I better check again. They are set up to train working pilots, which is fine, but I am interested in personal use just for fun.
thanks
slowrotor

Slowrotor,

I just tried my web site and it worked fine. On the West Coast try Zemlock helicopters in Chino, California. www.zemlock.com
There are lots of Bell 47's on the West Coast.

Regards,

Chopperpilot47

quadrirotor,

A couple of contestants for 'The Perfect Homebuilt Helicopter'. ;)

Paddle wheel rotorcraft

Cyclorotor composite aircraft

:D

A must!
 

Anyway, i you are involved in rotorcraft, your wife must follow!:} http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/att...&stc=1&thumb=1

Dave,
Interesting patents. I was thinking, must be a crackpot inventor, until I noticed it was Northrop. Wonder if they will build a paddle chopper.
Do you have a picture of a cyclogiro?

I saw a balloon- rotor machine on a video. I think it was in Tillamook Oregon, intended to be used for logging. Didn't seem to work very well.

cyclogiro
 

slowrotor,

You mean this thing?
http://www.UniCopter.com/Temporary/cyclogiro.jpg

Wasn't this the first entrant for the American Helicopter Society's Human Powered Helicopter (HPH) Competition? :D


Dave

_Here's a use for helicopters that ain't dangerous._

http://www.unicopter.com/Temporary/many_laughing.gif http://www.unicopter.com/Temporary/many_laughing.gif http://www.unicopter.com/Temporary/many_laughing.gif