Bell 204/205 Explained

The Bell 204 and 205 are the civilian versions of the UH-1 Iroquois single-engine military helicopter of the Huey family of helicopters. They are type-certificated in the transport category and are used in a wide variety of applications, including crop dusting, cargo lifting, Forestry Operations, and aerial firefighting.

Development

Bell designed its Model 204 in response to a 1955 United States 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 204B helicopters had been delivered by 1967, while further examples were built by Agusta-Bell 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 were converted for commercial use.[1]

Variants

Bell 204

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

Bell 205

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

Experimental models

Upgrades

Derivatives

Operators

Military operators

For all military operators, regardless of the actual model, see List of UH-1 Iroquois operators

Government operators

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Frawley, Gerard: The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003–2004, page 44. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003.
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20110608074714/http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/1f2c7b0cfe3afe288625733a006b57df/%24FILE/H1SW.pdf FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet H1SW for the 204, 205A, 205A-1 and 210 models
  3. Mutza, Wayne: UH-1 Huey In Action, Aircraft No.75, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1986. p.10
  4. https://aerospace.subaru.co.jp/412epx/en/history.html HISTORY|SUBARU BELL 412EPX|SUBARU Aerospace Company
  5. Web site: Takeshi Makino. December 24, 2002. The Activities of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. in the Field of Vertical Flight. https://web.archive.org/web/20040414143348/http://www.geocities.co.jp/Technopolis/2415/makino.html. April 14, 2004. November 17, 2019.
  6. http://www.vectorsite.net/avhuey.html Greg Goebel's Vectorsite in Public Domain
  7. Web site: Eagle Power. Aviation Today. Douglas W. Nelms. 2005-11-01. 2007-03-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20071114173945/http://www.aviationtoday.com/print/rw/military/utility/1824.html. 2007-11-14. dead.
  8. Web site: Skycranes. Centennial of Flight Commission. 2007-03-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20070409021135/http://centennialofflight.gov/essay/Rotary/skycranes/HE13.htm. 9 April 2007. dead.
  9. http://www.janes.com/defence/air_forces/news/jdw/jdw010827_1_n.shtml Panha hovers between repair and manufacturing.
  10. Web site: Research aircraft (rotary and fixed wing) – National Research Council Canada . Nrc-cnrc.gc.ca . 2014-04-22.
  11. Web site: ROYAL THAI POLICE -History . 17 January 2013 . 23 September 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110923162623/http://thai-aviation.net/files/Police.pdf . dead .
  12. Web site: Royal Thai Police Wing . JetPhotos.Net. . 17 January 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151222085728/http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6630119&nseq=11 . 22 December 2015 . dead . dmy-all .
  13. Web site: National Airborne Service Corps (NASC) . TaiwanAirPower. 18 Jan 2013.
  14. Web site: CAL FIRE Air Unit . 20 January 2013 . 24 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924013252/http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/fire_protection_air_program.php . dead .
  15. Web site: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services . ffs.gov. 17 January 2013.
  16. Web site: Heuy dust off . Network Solutions® . 22 January 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121009000248/http://www.vietnamdustoff.com/dustoffaircraft.html . 9 October 2012 . dead .
  17. Web site: LVMPD Air Support. 20 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130115112335/http://lvmpd.com/Sections/AirSupport/tabid/166/Default.aspx. 15 January 2013. dead. dmy-all.
  18. Web site: NASA Security . 8 January 2010 . 20 January 2013 . 21 July 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100721123405/http://www.tactical-life.com/online/tactical-weapons/nasa-ert-spaceport-protectors/ . dead .
  19. http://www.airliners.net/photo/NASA/Bell-UH-1H-Iroquois/1721227/L/&sid=d2bb02874ad4f6c39641f1fd8a34a9c6Photo of the UH-1 on Airliners.net
  20. Web site: OC Fire Authority . Copyright ©DPD . 17 January 2013.
  21. Web site: SBSD Aircraft operated . sbcounty.gov. 17 January 2013.
  22. Web site: San Diego Sheriff's Copter 10 Responds To Riverside County For Hoist Rescue . Police Helicopter Pilot.com . 17 January 2013 . 8 June 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150608112707/http://www.policehelicopterpilot.com/police-helicopter-journal/?currentPage=3 . dead .
  23. Web site: San Diego County Sheriff Bell 205A . Demand media. 17 January 2013.
  24. Web site: Southwest Border Region . http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20140324095203/http%3A//www.cbp.gov/border%2Dsecurity/air%2Dsea/oam%2Doperating%2Dlocations . dead . 24 March 2014 . CPB.gov . 17 January 2013 .
  25. Web site: US Customs & Border Protection UH-1H. Demand media. 17 January 2013. 8 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150608113849/http://www.airliners.net/photo/US-Customs-%26/Bell-UH-1H-Iroquois/0715357/L/%26sid%3D97a57cb99297d72761e4f14a9f35c605. dead.
  26. Web site: Ventura County Air Unit . 20 January 2013.
  27. Web site: Kittitas County prepares for wildfire season. 15 May 2010. dailyrecordnews.com . 17 January 2013.