Bell XH-15

The Bell XH-15 (Bell Model 54) was an American four-seat utility helicopter designed and built by Bell Helicopter to meet a requirement for a liaison and utility helicopter for the United States Army and United States Air Force.

Contents
[hide]
 * 1Development
 * 2Variants
 * 3Operators
 * 4Specifications
 * 5See also
 * 6References
 * 6.1Notes
 * 6.2Bibliography

Development[edit]
The Model 54 was a conventional pod-and-boom four-seat helicopter with a wheeled, fixed tricycle landing gear and was powered by a single 275 hp Continental XO-470-5 piston engine located in the rear cabin driving a single two-bladed rotor. The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) ordered three in February 1946 as the XR-15. First flight was made in March 1948 with the new designation XH-15 but no orders were forthcoming following evaluation by the United States Air Force (USAF) and the project ended in 1950.

Variants[edit]

 * XR-15
 * Military designation for three Model 54s ordered for evaluation.[1]


 * XH-15
 * XR-15 re-designated before delivery.[1]

Operators[edit]

 * United States
 * United States Air Force

Specifications[edit]
General characteristics Performance
 * Crew: 1
 * Capacity: 3
 * Length: 27 ft 10 in (8.49 m)
 * Height: 8 ft 10 in (2.68 m)
 * Max takeoff weight: 2,795 lb (1,268 kg)
 * Powerplant: 1 × Continental XO-470-5 piston engine, 475 hp (354 kW)
 * Main rotor diameter: 37 ft 4 in (11.38 m)
 * Maximum speed: 106 mph; 92 kn (170 km/h)
 * Range: 199 mi; 173 nmi (320 km)
 * Service ceiling: 20,013 ft (6,100 m)

See also[edit]

 * Related lists
 * List of helicopters

Notes[edit]

 * 1) ^ Jump up to:a b Andrade 1979, p. 162

Bibliography[edit]
Categories:
 * United States military utility aircraft 1940–1949
 * United States helicopters 1940–1949