A1 Bell Sioux
In August 1960, it was announced that No 16 Air Observation Post Flight, based at RAAF Fairbairn and equipped with Cessna 180 aircraft, would be increased to squadron strength by the addition of 11 Bell 47G Sioux helicopters. The new No 16 Army Light Aircraft Squadron (16 ALA SQN), under the command of Wing Commander K.V. Robertson, moved to Amberley and remained a joint Army-RAAF unit until 1965. The first three Sioux (A1-560 to A1-562), which had arrived on 24 October 1960 were received from No 3 Aircraft Depot on 12 December. By January 1961, 11 aircraft, serialled A1-560 to A1-570, had been delivered.
The Bell 47 had first flown on 8 December 1945, and had been used worldwide as a utility and training helicopter. Entering US service in 1946, over 5000 were built. This was the type that changed medical evacuation in the Korean War - immortalised in MASH - by carrying a stretcher platform on each skid, either side of the bubble cockpit.
By 1962 three Sioux of 16 ALA SQN had been lost in accidents and three replacements were obtained. These were 47G-2A aircraft, serialled A1-660, A1-672 and A1-721. A1-721 didn't survive long. Delivered on 12 October 1962, it crashed two months later in New Guinea and was written-off. Strangely, serial number A1-721 was reallocated in 1968 to another aircraft.
In August 1964, it was announced a further 17 aircraft had been ordered at a cost of almost $2m. As only 10 aircraft remained for both training and reconnaissance, these new improved models would prepare the squadron more fully to meet its operational role.
The larger 47G-3B-1 model, with the 240 hp Lycoming V0-435 engine replaced by the 270 hp TVO-435, had improved performance in tropical areas. These aircraft, originally to be numbered from A3-201, were serialled A1-394 to A1-410 and were delivered in late 1965.
With Australia's entry into the Vietnam War, a further 16 aircraft were delivered in 1967. These 47G-3B-1 aircraft were serialled A1-635 to A1-648, A1-673 and A1-720. The final batch of 18, A1-721 to A1-738, was ordered in 1968 with the final aircraft, A1-738, being received on 11 April 1969. In Vietnam the Sioux was operated with the call-sign 'Possum' by No 161 Reconnaissance Flight. Eight aircraft were lost over six years of operations without the loss of a pilot. One aircraft, A1-409, was lost in Vietcong territory on 27 May 1967, and was subsequently bombed by allied aircraft to ensure its write-off.
Other users of the Sioux included No 183 Squadron in Papua New Guinea and Nos 162, 171 and 182 Flights.
The Sioux was withdrawn from service in 1977, being replaced by another Bell type, the 206B Kiowa.
TECHNICAL DATA: Bell 47G-3B-1 Sioux
DESCRIPTION:
Three-seat utility and training helicopter
POWER PLANT:
One 270hp Lycoming TV0-435.
DIMENSIONS:
Diameter of main rotor 11.32 m (37ft 1in); length 13.2 m (43ft 4in); height 2.83 m (9ft 3in).
WEIGHTS:
Empty 825kg (1819 lb); loaded 1340kg (2950lb).
PERFORMANCE:
Max speed 169 km/h (91 kt); cruising speed 149 km/h (81 kt); range 507 km (274 nm).
Back to top