Bell 204/205

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This article is about the civil versions of the Bell 204 and 205 models. For for the military versions, see UH-1 Iroquois.

Bell 204 and Bell 205

Kern County (California) Fire Department's Bell 205 departs from the Mojave Spaceport
Type	Multipurpose utility helicopter
Manufacturer	Bell Helicopter Textron
Maiden flight	October 22, 1956
Introduced	1959
Developed from	UH-1 Iroquois
Variants	Bell 212 Bell 214

A Bell XH-40, a prototype of the UH-1 and Bell 204

The Bell 204 and 205 are the civil versions of the ubiquitous UH-1 Iroquois military helicopters. These models are used in a wide variety of applications, including crop dusting, cargo lifting, and one of its most common uses, aerial firefighting.

1 Development
2 Variants
3 Operators
4 Specifications (204B)
5 References
6 External links
7 Related content

[edit] Development

Bell designed its Model 204 in response to a 1955 US Army requirement for a utility helicopter. The 204 was a giant step forward in helicopter design, being one of the first to be powered by a turboshaft. The turboshaft engine radically improved the practicality of the helicopter due to its light weight and high power to weight ratio, lower fuel consumption, and lower maintenance and operating costs. The use of a turboshaft in the 204 allowed it to carry a useful payload over respectable ranges and at reasonable speeds, which resulted in the 204 and subsequent 205 becoming the most successful western helicopter series in terms of numbers built.^[1]

The civil 204B was first delivered in 1961. The subsequent Model 205A-1 is equivalent to the UH-1H, which, compared to the 204, is longer, larger, and has better performance and a more powerful engine.^[1]

Over 60 civil Model 204Bs had been delivered by 1967, while further examples were built by Agusta-Bell up until 1973. 12,000 Model 205s (including civil 205A-1s) were built by Bell and Agusta-Bell up to the early 1980s. Numerous ex military 204s and 205s converted for commercial use.^[1]

[edit] Variants

[edit] Bell 204

Bell Helicopter's company designation of the UH-1B.

Bell 204B - Civil or military utility transport helicopter, derived from the UH-1B.
Agusta-Bell AB 204 - Civil or military utility transport helicopter. Built under licence in Italy by Agusta.
Fuji-Bell 204B-2 - Civil or military utility transport helicopter. Built under licence in Japan by Fuji Heavy Industries. Used by the Japan Ground Self Defence Force under the name Hiyodori.

[edit] Bell 205

A Bell 205A-1, used for parachutists during World Games 2005, Duisburg, Germany for the parachuting-competitions.

Bell Helicopter's company designation of the UH-1H.

Bell 205A-1 - Civil or military utility transport helicopter version, initial version based on the UH-1H.
Agusta-Bell 205 - Civil or military utility transport helicopter. Built under licence in Italy by Agusta.
Agusta-Bell 205A-1 - Modified version of the AB 205.
Fuji-Bell 205A-1 - Civil or military utility transport helicopter. Built under licence in Japan by Fuji.
Bell 205B- Bell's early version of the 210 built in the late 70's; only 5 were built and sold. Had 212 nose, up-rated T53-17 engine, K-Flex drive-shaft, 212 main rotor blades, tail-rotor blades.

[edit] Experimental models

Agusta-Bell 205BG - Prototype fitted with two Gnome H 1200 turboshaft engines.^[2]
Agusta-Bell 205TA - Prototype fitted with two Turbomeca Astazous turboshaft engines.^[2]
Bell 208 In 1965, Bell experimented with a single twin-engine Model 208 "Twin Huey" prototype, which was a UH-1D fitted with Continental XT67-T-1 engine module, consisting of two T72-T-2 turboshaft engines driving a common gearbox. This exercise was performed as an experiment using company funds.^[2]

[edit] Upgrades

Bell 210 - Bell Helicopters designation for a UH-1H remanufactured and sold to civilian operators.
Global Eagle - Pratt & Whitney Canada name for a modified UH-1H with a new PT6C-67D engine, modified tail rotor, and other minor changes reported to increase range and fuel efficiency over the Bell 212.^[3]

[edit] Derivatives

Bell 211 - The HueyTug, was a commercial version of the UH-1C with an upgraded transmission, longer main rotor, larger tailboom, strengthened fuselage, stability augmentation system, and a 2,650 shp (1,976 kW) T55-L-7 turboshaft engine.^[4]

Bell 212 - Bell Helicopters company designation for the UH-1N.

Main article: Bell 212

Bell 214 Huey Plus - Strengthened development of the Bell 205 airframe with a larger engine; optimized for "hot and high" conditions. Later developed into the larger, twin-engined Bell 214ST.

Main article: Bell 214

Bell 412 - Bell 212 with a four-bladed semi-rigid rotor system.

Main article: Bell 412

[edit] Operators

[edit] Civil operators

Canada: Heli-North Aviation
Colombia: Helicol Colombia
Italy
Laos: (Air America helicopters were formerly registered with XW registration)
New Zealand: Helipro
Portugal: Aeroavia
Switzerland: Heliswiss
United States
- Bell Helicopters
- Clear Creek Copters
- Helipro Completions
- Rotorcraft Support
- San Joaquin Helicopters

[edit] Governmental operators

United States
- California Department of Forestry
- NASA
- United States Border Patrol
- Washington State Department of Natural Resources

[edit] Fire-fighting operators

Italy
- Vigili Del Fuoco
United States
- Orange County Fire Authority
- Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District
- Kern County Fire Department
- Los Angeles City Fire Department
- Los Angeles County Fire Department

[edit] Medical operators

United States
- Dare County EMS

[edit] Police operators

Mexico
- Mexican Federal Police
United States
- Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
- Los Angeles Police Department
- Monroe County Sheriffs Office
- New York City Police Department
- San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department
- San Diego County Sheriffs Department
- Seminole County Sheriff
- Ventura County Sheriffs Department

[edit] Specifications (204B)

Data from The International Directiory of Civil Aircraft ^[1]

General characteristics

Crew: 1-2
Capacity: 3,000 lb (1,360 kg) including up to 8-9 passengers, or equivalent cargo
Length: 41 ft 8 in (12.69 m)
Rotor diameter: 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m)
Height: 14 ft 7 in (4.5 m)
Disc area: 1,808 ft² (168.0 m²)
Empty weight: 4,600 lb (2,085 kg)
Loaded weight: lb (kg)
Useful load: lb (kg)
Max takeoff weight: 9,500 lb (4,310 kg)
Powerplant: 1× Lycoming T53-L-11A turboshaft, 1,100 shp (820 kW)

Performance

Never exceed speed: knots (mph, km/h)
Maximum speed: 120 knots (135 mph, 220 km/h)
Cruise speed: knots (125 mph, 205 km/h)
Stall speed: knots (mph, km/h)
Range: 300 nm (mi, 533 km)
Service ceiling: 19,390 ft (5,910 m)
Rate of climb: 1,755 ft/min (8.9 m/s)
Disc loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
Power/mass: hp/lb (W/kg)

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Frawley, Gerard: The International Directiory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004, page 44. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7
^ ^a ^b ^c Greg Goebel's Vectorsite in Public Domain
^ Douglas W. Nelms (Nov 1, 2005). Eagle Power. Aviation Today. Retrieved on 17 March 2007.
^ Skycranes. Centennial of Flight Commission. Retrieved on 15 March 2007.

The initial version of this article was based on a public domain article from Greg Goebel's Vectorsite.

Chant, Christopher, Fighting Helicopters of the 20th Century, Graham Beehag Books, Christchurch, Dorset, England (1996).
Debay, Yves, Combat Helicopters, France: Histoire & Collections (1996)
Drendel, Lou. UH-1 in Action. Carrolton, TX: Squadron Signal. ISBN 0-89747-179-2
Francillon, Rene, J. Vietnam: The War in the Air New York: Arch Cape Press (1987)
Mesko, Jim, Airmobile: The Helicopter War in Vietnam, Squadron Signal Publications (1984).
Specifications for 204, 205 and 214 Huey Plus
Mutza, Wayne. UH-1 Huey in Colors. Carrolton, TX: Squadron Signal. ISBN 0-89747-279-9

[edit] External links

[edit] Related content

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

UH-1

Related development

Designation sequence

47 - 200 - 201 - 204 - 205 - 206 - 207 - 209

Related lists

List of active United States military aircraft