Bell 201
Experimental helicopter by Bell
title: "Bell 201" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1950s-united-states-helicopters", "united-states-military-helicopters", "bell-aircraft", "1950s-united-states-experimental-aircraft", "single-turbine-helicopters", "aircraft-first-flown-in-1954", "single-rotor-helicopters", "aircraft-with-skid-landing-gear"] description: "Experimental helicopter by Bell" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_201" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Experimental helicopter by Bell ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Bell 201/XH-13F |
| image | Bell_47_XH-13F_experimental_bw.jpg |
| caption | Bell 201/XH-13F in a hover |
| type | Experimental helicopter |
| national_origin | United States |
| manufacturer | Bell Aircraft |
| first_flight | 20 October 1954 |
| primary_user | United States Army |
| more_users | United States Air Force |
| number_built | 1 |
| developed_from | Bell 47 |
| :: |
|name= Bell 201/XH-13F |image= Bell_47_XH-13F_experimental_bw.jpg |caption= Bell 201/XH-13F in a hover |type= Experimental helicopter |national_origin= United States |manufacturer= Bell Aircraft |designer= |first_flight= 20 October 1954 |introduction= |retired= |status= |primary_user= United States Army |more_users= United States Air Force |produced= |number_built= 1 |unit cost= |developed_from= Bell 47 |variants=
The Bell Model 201 (military designation XH-13F) was created using a modified Model 47G and was the first Bell helicopter to use a turbine engine.
History
Built at the beginning of 1955 as part of a joint Army/USAF research program, the Model 201 was used to test component for the new XH-40, the prototype for the UH-1 Iroquois. It took to the sky on October 20, 1954, with test pilot Bill Quinlan at the controls. The project engineer for this joint Army/USAF research program was J. R. "Bob" Duppstadt. A license-built development of the French 280-shp Turbomeca Artouste I turboshaft, known as the Continental CAE XT51-T-3, powered the XH-13F. This engine produced 425 shp, yet it weighed so little that it had to be mounted behind the helicopter's fuel tanks and rotor mast for weight-and-balance reasons.
The light weight of turbines made them ideal for helicopters, whose performance had long been constrained by the low power-to-weight ratios of piston engines. Turbine power also promised greater reliability and lower maintenance costs. Their drawbacks were higher fuel consumption and a significantly higher purchase price. The latter would limit civil market sales far more than those to the military. Putting a premium on performance and having public funds at their disposal, the world's armed services wholeheartedly embraced turbine power. Pleased with the prototype during its Phase I (factory) testing, Quinlan called the XH-13F the "smoothest Model 47 ever built". At the start of April 1955, the prototype was handed over to usaf Major Jones P. Seigler and First Lieutenant Donald A. Wooley. The two officers, attached to Edwards Air Force Base in California, conducted the Phase II test program at Fort Worth to ensure good coordination with Bell.
Specifications
|ref=International Directory of Civil Aircraft |prime units?=kts General characteristics
|crew= 1 or 2 |capacity= 1 passenger |length ft=31 |length in=7 |span ft=37 |span in=2 |height m= |height ft=9 |height in=3 |height note= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight lb= |fuel capacity= |more general= Powerplant
|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Continental XT51-T-3 |eng1 type=turboshaft |eng1 hp=425
|rot number=1 |rot dia ft=37 |rot dia in=2 |rot area sqft= 1,085 Performance
|max speed kts= |cruise speed kts= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range nmi= |combat range km= |combat range miles= |combat range nmi= |combat range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range miles= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |climb rate ftmin= |time to altitude= |disk loading kg/m2= |disk loading lb/sqft= |disk loading note= |fuel consumption kg/km= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass= |thrust/weight=
|more performance=
References
References
- Donald, David, ed. "Bell 47". ''The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft''. Barnes & Nobel Books, 1997. {{ISBN. 0-7607-0592-5.
- Day, Dwayne A. [http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Rotary/Huey/HE11.htm "Bell UH-1 'Huey'"] {{webarchive. link. (May 27, 2010 . US Centennial of Flight.)
- Apostolo, Giorgio. ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters'', pp. 46-47. New York: Bonanza Books. 1984. {{ISBN. 978-0-517-43935-7.
- Spenser, Jay P. "Bell Helicopter". ''Whirlybirds, A History of the U.S. Helicopter Pioneers''. University of Washington Press, 1998. {{ISBN. 0-295-98058-3.
- "Bell Model 201 / XH-13F helicopter - development history, photos, technical data".
- Frawley, page 42
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