Bell Sioux 47B - 3B1 & 2, NZ 5701 to NZ 5713, 1965 to 1999

Company:
Bell

Rotor Diameter:
35 ft 1.1/2 in 10.71 M

Length:
31 ft 7in 9.62 M

Height:
9ft 3.1/4 in 2.83 M

Ceiling:
10,900ft 3,322 M

Speed at Sea Level:
100 MPH 161 KPH

Range:
215 Miles 341 Km

T/O Weight:
2,350 Lbs 1,066 Kg

Crew:
1 or 2

Role:
Helicopter Conversion Trainer
Army Observation Training
Utility

Total Manufactured:
5,000 Plus

First Flight:
1943

Armament:
Nil

Years:
1965 to 1999

Qty Served:
13

Tail Nos:
NZ 3701 to NZ 3706 3B1
NZ 3707 to NZ 3713 3B2

ENGINE

Image Source

As fitted to a Sioux

Type:
Lycoming TVO 435 A1A
6 cylinder, horizontal opposed, air cooled, vertically mounted

Horse Power:
260 HP

Bore:
4.875 in 123.7 mm

Stroke:
3.875 in 98.4 mm

Volume:
435 Cu In 7.10 L

Compression ratio:
7.5 : 1

T/O RPM:
3,200 RPM

Fuel:
100 / 130 Octane

Oil:
OMD 370

Length:
43.5 in 1,105 mm

Width:
33.58 in 8240 mm

Weight:
433 lb 196.6 kg

NZ 3701

Constructors No.: 6514
Model 3B1
Delivered by RNZAF C130 Hercules to Whenuapai 17 Dec 1965
Trucked to Hobsonville for assembly and
test flying
B O C 3 Battlefield Support Sqn Hobsonville 12 Jan 1966
Badly damaged during an autorotational
landing at Wigram 21 Apr 1972
Repaired at 1 RD Woodbourne and returned to service
Crashed near Waiouru after an engine failure 19 Jan 1979
Written off

NZ 3702

Constructors No 6515
Model 3B1
Delivered by RNZAF C130 Hercules to Whenuapai 17 Dec 1965
Trucked to Hobsonville for assembly and
test flying
B O C 3 Battlefield Support Sqn, Hobsonville 12 Jan 1966
Struck cables over Buller Gorge during an
Army Co-Op exercise and crash
Landed on river bank 1745 on 2 Dec 1977
Repaired at 1 RD Woodbourne and returned to service
Flown 7,816.6 Hrs as at 14 Oct 1999

NZ 3703

Constructors No.: 6516
Model No: 3B1
Delivered by RNZAF C130 Hercules to Whenuapai 17 Dec 1965
Trucked to Hobsonville for assembly and
test flying
B O C 3 Battlefield Support Sqn, Hobsonville 12 Jan 1966
Crashed in headwaters of Awatere River,
Marlborough after tail rotor failure 1130 on 30 Jun 1977
Written off

NZ 3704

Constructors No.: 6517
Model No: 3B1
Delivered by RNZAF C130 Hercules to Whenuapai Jan 1966
Trucked to Hobsonville for assembly and
test flying
B O C 3 Battlefield Support Sqn, Hobsonville Jan 1966
Crashed in Woodhill State Forest near
Kaipara Heads 16 Jan 1987
Written off
Some components used in Inst 221 at
4 TTS Woodbourne

NZ 3705

Constructors No.: 6518
Model: 3B1
Delivered by RNZAF C130 Hercules to Whenuapai Jan 1966
Trucked to Hobsonville for assembly and
test flying
B O C 3 Battlefield Support Sqn, Hobsonville Jan 1966
Flown 8,378.8 Hrs as at 14 Oct 1999

NZ 3706

Constructors No.: 6519
Model: 3B1
Delivered by RNZAF C130 Hercules to Whenuapai Jan 1966
Trucked to Hobsonville for assembly and
test flying
B O C 3 Battlefield Support Sqn, Hobsonville Jan 1966
Flown 8,610.7 Hrs as at 14 Oct 1999

NZ 3707

Constructors No.: 6809
Model: 3B2
Delivered 28 Jul 1970
B O C 3 Battlefield Support Sqn, Hobsonville 1970
Crashed at Waiouru 2 Apr 1974
Written off
some components used in Inst 221
4 TTS Woodbourne

NZ 3708

Constructors No.: 6810
Model: 3B2
Delivered 28 Jul 1970
B O C 3 Battlefield Support Sqn, Hobsonville late 1970
Badly damaged after a forced landing due to
engine failure near Lulu Village Fiji 25 Jun 1981
Written off

NZ 3709

Constructors No.: 6811
Model: 3B2
Delivered 12 Oct 1970
B O C 3 Battlefield Support Sqn, Hobsonville late 1970
Crashed south of Waiouru 11 Nov 1983
Not rebuilt

NZ 3710

Constructors No.: 6812
Model: 3B2
Delivered 12 Oct 1970
B O C 3 Battlefield Support Sqn, Hobsonville late 1970
Badly damaged in an autorotational landing
at Hobsonville 17 Jul 1972
Rebuilt at 1 RD Woodbourne and returned to service
Crashed at Hobsonville during a torque-turn 16 Jul 1985
Not rebuilt

NZ 3711

Constructors No.: 6813
Model 3B2
Delivered 12 Oct 1970
B O C 3 Battlefield Support Sqn, Hobsonville late 1970
Crashed and caught fire at Waiouru after rotors
struck building while landing 15 Nov 1971
Written off
Components used in Inst 221
4 TTS Woodbourne

NZ 3712

Constructors No.: 6814
Model: 3B2
Delivered 12 Oct 1970
B O C 3 Battlefield Support Sqn Hobsonville late 1970
Flown 6,041.00 Hrs as at 14 Oct 1999
Damaged in a forced landing after wire strike in
bad weather, south of Opotiki 20 Aug 2001
Trucked back to Hobsonville

NZ 3713

Constructors No.: 6815
Model 3B2
Delivered 12 Oct 1970
B O C 3 Battlefield Support Sqn, Hobsonville late 1970
Heavy landing at Wigram, frame damage
and destroyed tail 26 Feb 1988
Rebuilt and returned to service
Flown 6,235/7 Hrs as at 14 Oct 1999

First Helicopters flown by RNZAF
First 6 Delivered 1965
Remaining A/C Upgraded to B47G – 3B – 2

Unsourced photos through the Ohakea Museum

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner