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  • Bell 61

    1953










    Bell 61

    The Bell 61 was the only tandem rotor type designed by Bell. it was developed as an anti-submarine warfare helicopter for the US Navy. First flew on March 3, 1953. Two prototypes XHSL-1 were built plus one ground test vehicle. Urgent needs made the Navy assigned 234 Bureau Numbers and signed a contract for the first 160 including 18 for the Royal Navy. Performance and production issues forced that only 50 HSL-1 were built. The HO4S (Sikorsky S-55), which the HSL-1 had been intended to replace remained in service until the introduction of the HSS-1 (S-58). Only a few were delivered to the US Navy and used for test purpose only. Proposed civil variants models D-116, D-216 and D-238 they did not go beyond the planning phase
    Ambitious order book from the US Navy was scaled back by cancellation of some contracts.




    Specifications


    Engine: 1 x PW R-2800 Double Wasp 2000 shp
    Capacity: 4
    Length: (m) 11.9
    Height: (m) 4.42
    Blades: 4
    Rotor diam.: (m) 15.7
    Disc area: (m2) 388.5
    Weight: (kgs)     Max: 12000
    Speed: (km/h) Cruise: 161     Max: 185
    Range: (km) 560
    Ceiling: (m)
    Rate/Climb: (m/min)
    blueprints


    List of Operators of Bell 61


    From Organisation with model 61
    1954
    usa US Navy
        52 1954/60


    Construction Numbers on database of 61 or its versions

    561




    Construction Numbers

    Help Us

    C/NBuilt asYearHistory
    4 US 129154
    15 US 129165
    16 US 129166
    19 US 129843
    53 US 129877
    5 C/N.


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