Bell XH-15

The Bell XH-15 (Bell Model 54) was an American four-seat utility helicopter designed and built by Bell Helicopter to meet a requirement for a liaison and utility helicopter for the United States Army and United States Air Force.

Development
The Model 54 was a conventional pod-and-boom four-seat helicopter with a wheeled, fixed tricycle landing gear and was powered by a single 275 hp Continental XO-470-5 piston engine located in the rear cabin driving a single two-bladed rotor. The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) ordered three in February 1946 as the XR-15. First flight was made in March 1948 with the new designation XH-15 but no orders were forthcoming following evaluation by the United States Air Force (USAF) and the project ended in 1950.

Variants

 * XR-15
 * Military designation for three Model 54s ordered for evaluation.


 * XH-15
 * XR-15 re-designated before delivery.

Operators

 * United States Air Force
 * United States Air Force