| HSL (Bell Model 61) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | tandem-rotor ASW helicopter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Bell Helicopter |
| First flight | 3 March 1953 |
| Introduction | 1957 |
| Primary user | United States Navy |
| Number built | 53 including one static test article |
The Bell HSL (Model 61) was an American 1950s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter built by Bell Helicopter company, the only tandem rotor type designed by Bell.
Design and development[]
The prototype Bell Model 61 first flew on 3 March 1953; it had been designed to meet a United States Navy requirement for an anti-submarine warfare helicopter. In June 1950, the Model 61 was announced as the winner of the competition, and three XHSL-1 evaluation aircraft were ordered. The Model 61 had a rectangular-section fuselage structure and a four-leg, six-wheel landing gear. It was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine mounted in the aft fuselage. Crew included two pilots and two sonar operators.[1]
Because of the urgency of the requirement, low-rate production was ordered almost immediately after Bell received a contract for three XHSL-1s. The Navy eventually contracted for at least 160 production aircraft, including 18 intended for the British Royal Navy. Bureau Numbers were assigned for a total of 234. Because of development problems that resulted in poor schedule performance to the contract, only 50 were built. Although all were delivered, after service test and acceptance only a handful were used, for the development of airborne mine sweeping. The rest were delivered directly into storage and were subsequently struck off.
Operational history[]
The HSLs were not used operationally. Approximately seven were assigned to the U.S. Naval Air Mine Defense Unit at Panama City, Florida, for the development of airborne mine-sweeping, the first arriving in September 1956 and the last being struck off in early 1960.
Variants[]
- XHSL-1
- two experimental flight test and one static test article
- HSL-1
- production version, 50 built.
- Bell Model 61
- Company designation for the HSL
- Bell D-116
- A proposed civil variant of the Model 61, not proceeded with.
- Bell D-216
- A proposed variant of the HSL, not proceeded with.
- Bell D-238
- A proposed variant of the HSL, not proceeded with.
Operators[]
Specifications (HSL-1)[]
Data from [2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 4
- Length: 39 ft 1 in (11.9 m) (fuselage only)
- Width: 11 ft 6 in (3.5 m) (rotors folded)
- Height: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
- Gross weight: 26,500 lb (12,020 kg)
- Rotor diameter' (both) 51ft 6in (15.7m)
- Rotor disc area 4,170sq ft (387.4sq m)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-50 18-cyl. two-row air-cooled radial piston engine, 2,400 hp (1,800 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 115 mph (185 km/h; 100 kn)
- Cruise speed: 96 mph (83 kn; 154 km/h)
- Range: 350 mi (304 nmi; 563 km)
See also[]
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References[]
- Notes
- ↑ "Navy's Most Powerful Helicopter to Hunt Submarines." Popular Mechanics, August 1953, p. 121.
- ↑ Pelletier, Alain J. (1992). Bell Aircraft since 1935 (1st ed.). London: Putnam & Company Ltd.. pp. 100–102. ISBN 1-55750-056--8. OCLC 91-66350.
- Bibliography
- Andrade, John M. U.S.Military Aircraft Designation and Serials since 1909. Leicester, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). London, Orbis Publishing, 1985.
- Thomason, Tommy H. The Forgotten Bell HSL. Simi Valley, CA: Ginter Books, 2005. ISBN 978-0-942612-70-7
External links[]
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The original article can be found at Bell HSL and the edit history here.