Soloy Bell 47
The Soloy Bell 47 is a turbine conversion of the classic Bell 47, retaining the exposed lattice tail boom and bubble canopy while replacing the original piston engine with an Allison turboshaft. That change improved reliability and power, particularly in hot or high conditions, and gave existing airframes a second working life. The type is easy to mistake for an ordinary Bell 47 from a distance, but its turbine installation makes it a distinct and much rarer version. Few conversions were completed.
Did you know?
A turbine conversion of the classic Bell 47, keeping its lattice tail boom and bubble canopy but swapping in an Allison turboshaft.
Specifications
| Length | 9.6 m (32 ft) |
|---|---|
| Height | 2.8 m (9 ft) |
| Rotor diameter | 10.7 m (35 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 2 |
| Persons on board | 3 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 1.3 t |
| Range | 250 NM (463 km) |
| Maximum speed | 100 kt (185 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 12,000 ft (3,658 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 18,000 ft (5,486 m) |
| Rate of climb | 880 ft/min (4.5 m/s) |
| Fuel capacity | 180 l |
| Engines | 1x Allison 250-C20 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Soloy Bell 47 starts as a Legendary catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you. The first catch of a legendary type pays a bonus of its own.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Soloy, the Bell 47 family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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