In the early 1930 's, Arthur Young , a brilliant young inventor, built and
successfully demonstrated a viable, flyable helicopter model.
Larry Bell , a successful entrepreneur and founder of the Bell Aircraft Corporation , was so impressed with Young's efforts that in 1941 he set the youthful inventor up in a small shop in Gardenville, New York
At that time Bell was already a manufacturer of conventional aircraft such as the WWII fighter P-39 Airacobra and the P-59, America's first jet-powered airplane. In addition, Bell was to develop the X-1, which was to become the world's first super- sonic plane.
By 1951, Bell helicopters were in service around the world, breaking records as fast as they were setting them. And since Bell Aircraft Corporation's reputation for helicopter manufacture began to rival its reputation as a builder of conventional aircraft , the company created a separate helicopter division which was headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. Today, with Bell helicopters flying in more than 120 different countries , they are logging another ten hours every minute of every day.
1935 : Bell Aircraft Corporation
56 employees make up the entire staff of the newly founded Corporation.
1941 :
Development begins on the first Bell helicopter. With a tethered control linemodel, Arthur Young proves his invention is workable.
1942 :
Gardenville, New York becames the site for Arthur Young and his apprentice,
Bartram Kelley to produce a full-size vertical takeoff aircraft.
1943 : Bell 30
The ship #1 nicknamed Genevieve flies for the first time
January 5, 1945 : First rescue by a Bell Helicopter
Bell Aircraft test pilot Jack Woolams rescued by Floyd Carlson after bailing out of his crippled XP-59A Aircomet
December 8, 1945 : Bell 47 (H-13 Sioux)
would subsequently set the stage for a whole new industry.
1946 :
Bell establishes the first flight training school for commercial helicopters pilots.
In December, first production helicopters are delivered to the US Army.
March 8, 1946 :
The Bell 47 receives Helicopter Type Certificate No 1 : NC-1H The first one ever granted by Civil Aeronautics Board (forerunner of the FAA)
Larry Bell , a successful entrepreneur and founder of the Bell Aircraft Corporation , was so impressed with Young's efforts that in 1941 he set the youthful inventor up in a small shop in Gardenville, New York
At that time Bell was already a manufacturer of conventional aircraft such as the WWII fighter P-39 Airacobra and the P-59, America's first jet-powered airplane. In addition, Bell was to develop the X-1, which was to become the world's first super- sonic plane.
By 1951, Bell helicopters were in service around the world, breaking records as fast as they were setting them. And since Bell Aircraft Corporation's reputation for helicopter manufacture began to rival its reputation as a builder of conventional aircraft , the company created a separate helicopter division which was headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. Today, with Bell helicopters flying in more than 120 different countries , they are logging another ten hours every minute of every day.








Bell Aircraft test pilot Jack Woolams rescued by Floyd Carlson after bailing out of his crippled XP-59A Aircomet



In December, first production helicopters are delivered to the US Army.



The Bell 47 receives Helicopter Type Certificate No 1 : NC-1H The first one ever granted by Civil Aeronautics Board (forerunner of the FAA)