Westland/Agusta Sioux AH.1
Agusta / Westland Helicopters · United Kingdom · first flew 1964 · helicopter
The Sioux AH.1 is the British Army Air Corps designation for the Bell 47G-3B helicopter, licence-built by Agusta and finished by Westland Helicopters for British military service.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.32 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- British Army light helicopter built under Bell 47G-3B licence by Westland/Agusta
- Characteristic bubble canopy and open lattice tail boom
- Lycoming VO-540 flat-six engine, two-blade rotor
The open bubble cockpit, lattice tail boom, and two-blade rotor are definitive Bell 47 features; British Army khaki or green camouflage and Army Air Corps titles confirm the Sioux AH.1.
Specifications
- The Westland/Agusta Sioux AH.1 has a length of 9.32 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.28 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 169 km/h (105 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 + 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The British Army adopted the Bell 47 as the Sioux in the early 1960s to replace the Skeeter in the observation and liaison role. Aircraft were assembled under sub-licence arrangements involving Agusta and Westland at Yeovil, with the Lycoming engine substituted for the earlier Franklin. Over 250 Sioux served with the Army Air Corps at home and overseas.
Variants
The AH.1 was the sole British Army Sioux designation, equivalent to the Bell 47G-3B; no significant British sub-variants were produced.
Where you'll see it
Served widely with the Army Air Corps in West Germany (BAOR), the UK, the Far East, and the Middle East from the mid-1960s until retirement in the 1970s.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.