Bell 205
Bell Textron · United States · first flew 1961 · helicopter
The Bell 205 is the commercial designation for the civil version of the legendary Bell UH-1 Iroquois 'Huey', one of the most produced and recognisable helicopters in history. It retains the classic two-blade semi-rigid rotor and broad-cabin utility design of its military counterpart.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 17.62 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Civil version of the UH-1 Iroquois 'Huey'
- Single turboshaft with distinctive two-blade teetering rotor
- Iconic 'Huey' slapping rotor sound
The definitive utility helicopter silhouette: a broad rectangular cabin, single large-diameter two-blade main rotor, turboshaft engine above the cabin with a distinctive exhaust, and a slim tail boom with a two-blade tail rotor.
Specifications
- The Bell 205 has a length of 17.62 m (58 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.63 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 222 km/h (138 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 + up to 14 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Bell 205 entered production as the commercial version of the UH-1D, with the first examples available from 1961. It found wide use in oil and gas support, firefighting, executive transport, and utility roles worldwide. The Bell 212 twin-engine variant and Bell 214 further developed the airframe. Agusta built the type under licence in Italy, and Fuji in Japan.
Variants
The Bell 204 is the commercial version of the earlier UH-1B; the Bell 205 corresponds to the UH-1D/H; the Bell 205A-1 features an uprated Lycoming T53 engine; Agusta-Bell produced the AB 205.
Where you'll see it
Operated in civil and paramilitary roles worldwide across every continent; fire services, police forces, and utility operators worldwide remain major users; military UH-1 equivalents served in Vietnam and dozens of other conflicts.
Related aircraft
- Bell YOH-4
- Bell 204/205 (UH-1 Iroquois family)
- Bell 309 KingCobra
- Bell 214ST
- Agusta AB 204AS
- Bell 205A
- Bell UH-1D Iroquois
- Boeing CH-47 Chinook
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