Bell 204B
Bell Helicopter / Agusta · United States · first flew 1958 · helicopter
The Bell 204B is the civil certification variant of the Bell UH-1B Iroquois, produced for commercial utility and offshore helicopter operations with a turboshaft powerplant.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Civil variant of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois Huey
- Single turboshaft with two-blade teetering rotor
- Skid undercarriage with large bubble-windowed nose
Classic Huey silhouette with the distinctive two-blade teetering rotor, skids, and rounded nose; the 204B has a shorter fuselage than the 205 and seats fewer passengers.
Specifications
- The Bell 204B has a length of 12.7 m (42 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.41 m (44 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 222 km/h (138 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 + up to 6 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Bell introduced the 204B in the late 1950s to commercialise the successful military Huey design; it was licence-built by Agusta in Italy and Fuji in Japan. The type found wide use in offshore oil support, logging, and utility roles.
Variants
The 204B uses a single Lycoming T53 turboshaft; the longer-fuselage Bell 205 (UH-1H) followed with greater capacity.
Where you'll see it
Widely operated globally in civil utility, offshore, and firefighting roles; Agusta-built examples were common across Europe and South America.
Related aircraft
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