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  • Bell Helicopter

    Bell Helicopter



    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.

    Gardenville New York Bell Helicopter 1940




    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.

    Arthur Young


    1943 : Bell 30 The ship #1 nicknamed Genevieve flies for the first time

    BELL 30


    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

    first rescue Bell helicopter


    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.

    Bell 47

    March 8, 1946 :

    NC-1H first FAA register

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


    Continue with PART II






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