Canadian Warplanes 7: Bell Helicopters flown by the Canadian Forces
Bell helicopters flown by the Canadian Forces
(Shearwater Aviation Museum Photo)
Bell HTL-6 Sioux Helicopter, RCN (Serial No. 1300), (142300).
Bell 47D, RCAF H-13B Sioux Helicopter (3), (Serial Nos. 9608 & 9609) later RCN (Serial No. 050), (Serial No. 9616), later RCN (Serial No. 1329), Model 47D-1, RCN HTL-4 Sioux (3), (Serial Nos. 300-302). Model 47G,RCN HTL-6 Sioux Helicopter (3), (Serial Nos. 1387, 1388, 1452), for a total of 9 helicopters.
The Bell H-13 was employed in Canada as early as 1947 by Canada's Photographic Survey Corporation and Carl Agar's Okanagan Air Service. It became the first helicopter operated by the Royal Canadian Navy, in August 1951. The RCN referred to it as HTL. It is called Sioux by the RCAF. (CASM)
The Sioux is a three-seat observation and basic training helicopter. It is an American single-rotor utility and training helicopter designed and built by Bell Aircraft Corporation/Bell Helicopter Company from 1945 to 1973. In 1953 the Bell 47G design was introduced. It can be recognized by the full "soap bubble" canopy (as its designer Arthur M. Young termed it), exposed welded-tube tail boom, saddle fuel tanks and skid landing gear. A single 260 hp Lycoming VO-435 piston engine was fitted to the 47G variant. Fuel was fed from two high-mounted external tanks. A single two-bladed rotor with short inertial stabilising minor blades was used on the Sioux.
In its UH-13J version, based on the Bell 47J, it had a metal-clad tail boom and fuselage and an enclosed cockpit and cabin. The H-13 and its military variants were often equipped with medical evacuation panniers, one to each skid, with an acrylic glass shield to protect the patient from wind. The Sioux was the first helicopter certified for civil use andthe first commercial helicopter to go into service. More than 6,400 were produced by Bell and its licensees around the world. (Wikipedia)
(Author Photo)
Bell HTL-6 Sioux Helicopter, RCN (Serial No. 1387), (142386). Canada Air and Space Museum, Ottawa, Ontario.
(DND Photo via James Craik)
Bell 47D Sioux helicopter, RCAF (Serial No. 9608), VC-BVV, 444 Sqn, Rivers, Manitoba.
(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4234650)
Bell H-13B Sioux Helicopter, Canadian Army, CJATC Base Rivers, Manitoba.
Bell CH-118 Iroquois
(Author Photo)
Bell CH-118 Iroquois (Serial No. 118101), National Air Force Museum of Canada, CFB Trenton, Ontario.
The Bell UH-1 Iroquois (nicknamed "Huey") is a utility military helicopter powered by a single turboshaft engine, with two-bladed main and tail rotors. The first member of the prolific Huey family, it was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet a 1952 US Army requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter, and first flew in 1956. The UH-1 was the first turbine-powered helicopter produced for the US military, and more than 16,000 have been built since 1960.
The Iroquois was originally designated HU-1, hence the Huey nickname, which has remained in common use, despite the official redesignation to UH-1 in 1962. The UH-1 first saw service in combat operations during the Vietnam War, with around 7,000 helicopters deployed. The Bell 204 and 205 are Iroquois versions developed for the civil market.
Bell began development of the UH-1N for Canada in 1968. It changed to the more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T twin-engine set . The U.S. also ordered the helicopter with the USAF receiving it in 1970. Canada's military, the U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Navy first received the model in 1971. CUH-1H was the initial Canadian Forces designation for the UH-1H utility transport helicopter. It was later redesignated CH-118, with a total of 10 built. (Wikipedia)
(DND Photo)
Bell CH-118 Iroquois (Serial No. 118110), in an early 1970's Rescue paint scheme, CFB Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Bell CH-135 Twin Huey
(Author Photo)
Bell CH-135 Twin Huey (Serial No. 135102), CFB Trenton, Ontario.
The Bell UH-1N Twin Huey is a medium military helicopter. A member of the extensive Huey family, it first flew in 1969. The CUH-1N Twin Huey (later CH-135 Twin Huey) was the original version, first ordered by the Canadian Forces, which purchased 50 aircraft, with deliveries commencing in May 1971. The aircraft powerplant, the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T, was produced in Canada. The aircraft were retired from the Canadian Forces starting in 1996 and struck off strength in December 1999. 41 of the surviving CH-135s were acquired by the US government in December 1999. Two CH-135s are on display in museums, one at the CASM in Ottawa, and one at the NAFMC at CFB Trenton, Ontario. (Wikipedia)
The UH-1N has a 15-seat configuration, with one pilot and 14 passengers. In cargo configuration, it has an internal capacity of 220 ft³ (6.23 m³). An external load up to 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) can be carried. The UH-1N was later developed into the civilian Bell 2123.
(Author Photo)
A jump from a No. 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron Bell CH-135 Twin Huey helicopter, over DZ Buxton, Edmonton, Alberta. The author stepped off the rails and looked up to get this shot of Wayne Johnson in the doorway, Ralph Goebel in a picture perfect step off (not easy to do), and Jean Simard to the right, 1978.
Bell CH-136 Kiowa
(Author Photo)
Bell CH-136 Kiowa Helicopter (Serial No. 136250), 427 Sqn, CFB Petawawa, Ontario, 1974.
The OH-58A Kiowa is a 4-place observation helicopter. The Kiowa has two-place pilot seating, although the controls in the left seat are designed to be removed to carry a passenger up front. A total of 74 OH-58A helicopters were delivered to the Canadian Armed Forces between 1971 and 1972 as a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH), performing duties such as reconnaissance, command and liaison or artillery fire direction. The CAF redesignated them as the CH-136 Kiowa. Although similar in appearance to the trainer Bell CH-139 Jet Ranger, major differences between the two helicopters include the main rotor blades and dynamic components. The CH-136 was powered by a C-18 engine and the CH-139 was powered by a C-20 engine. (Wikipedia)
No. 438 Squadron flew the CH-136 from 1982 to 1995. No. 400 Squadron flew the CH-136 from 1980 to 1995. No. 427 Squadron flew the CH-136 from 1972 to 1992. No. 444 Squadron flew the CH-136 from 1972 to 1991. No. 408 Squadron flew the CH-136 from 1971 to 1995. No. 430 Squadron flew the CH-136 from 1971 to 1995. No. 422 Squadron flew the CH-136 from ca 1971 to ca 1995. (RCAF)
(Author Photo)
Bell CH-136 Kiowa (Serial No. 136216), 75th Anniversary commemorative paint scheme, mounted on a pylon at the entrance to 5 Canadian Division Support Group Base Gagetown, New Brunswick.
Bell CH-139 Jet Ranger
(DND Photo)
Bell CH-139 Jet Ranger, C-FTHV.
Bell CH-139 Jet Ranger II Helicopter (14), (Serial Nos. 139301-139314). The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- and twin-engined helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec, plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, it was not selected by the Army. Bell redesigned the airframe and successfully marketed the aircraft commercially as the five-place Bell 206A JetRanger. The new design was eventually selected by the Army as the OH-58 Kiowa. Bell also developed a seven-place LongRanger, which was later offered with a twin-engined option as the TwinRanger, while Tridair Helicopters offers a similar conversion of the LongRanger called the Gemini ST. The ICAO-assigned model designation "B06" is used on flight plans for the JetRanger and LongRanger, and the designation "B06T" is used for the twin-engined TwinRangers. Used as Helicopter Pilot Trainer at 3 CFTS CFB Portage, Manitoba. (Wikipedia)
Bell CH-146 Griffon
(Andy Vanderheyden Photo)
Bell CH-146 Griffon, RCAF (Serial No. 146491).
The Bell CH-146 Griffon is a multi-role utility helicopter used in a wide variety of roles, including aerial firepower, reconnaissance, search and rescue and aero-mobility tasks. It has a crew of three, can carry up to ten troops and has a cruising speed of 220–260 km/h (120–140 kn; 140–160 mph). The Canadian Forces purchased 100 aircraft and received them in 1995–1997. In 2005, nine CH-146s were sold to the Allied Wings consortium to be used as trainers at No. 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School, located at Southport Aerospace Centre just south of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. The Griffon features GPS-satellite navigation and Doppler-radar systems. It can also be fitted with a variety of equipment, including self-defence weapons, a powerful searchlight, and a hoist to extract people and cargo from almost any terrain. (Wikipedia)
(Author Photo)
Bell CH-146 Griffon helicopter, No. 403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron, Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick, 7 June 2024.
No. 403 "City of Calgary" (Helicopter) Operational Training Squadron (403 Sqn) is a squadron of the RCAF, based at 5 Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, New Brunswick. It is currently equipped with Bell CH-146 Griffon helicopters and provides operational aircrew training to the crews who will fly the helicopter. The squadron also conducts operational test and evaluation, develops aviation tactics and carries out operations in support of the 1 Wing mission. It also supports the local Army requirements of the Combat Training Centre at 5 CDSB Gagetown. It was founded as No. 403 Squadron RCAF.
A pilot will spend three months at Gagetown learning to fly the Griffon before being posted to one of 1 Wing's five operational squadrons. While at Gagetown, pilots learn advanced aircraft handling, including slinging and hoisting, tactical formation, flying and low-level tactical flying.
Bell 412CF
(Mike Kaehler Photo)
Bell 412CF, RCAF (Serial No. 146404), Reg. No. C-FYZK, currently flown by KF Aerospace at Southport, Manitoba, to support RCAF pilot training. It is one of 100 custom-built CH-146 Griffon utility transport helicopters for the CF.
The Bell 412CF provides the second level of helicopter training in the Royal Canadian Air Force prior to trainees earning their wings. With glass cockpit displays, a flight management system and a weather radar, the Bell 412CF is used to prepare pilots for their future flying operations on the CH-146 Griffon, CH-147F Chinook, CH-148 Cyclone or CH-149 Cormorant. The Bell 412CF is a development of the Bell 212, with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.
