Bell aircraft types

Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey

V-22 Osprey

Decades of Bell tiltrotor research became the V-22 Osprey: takes off vertically like a helicopter, cruises like a turboprop. Here is how to recognize it, what Bell contributes and how to catch the CV-22B at RAF Mildenhall.

Bell 206 JetRanger / LongRanger

JetRanger

Two rotor blades, one turbine, a slim fuselage: the Bell 206 JetRanger and its stretched sibling the LongRanger shaped the civil helicopter world for decades – and, as the OH-58 Kiowa, the military too. Here is how to recognize it.

Bell 407

Bell 407GX

It looks like a LongRanger but has four rotor blades: the Bell 407 is the modern single-engine all-rounder from Canada – in air ambulance work, with the police and in aerial work. Here is how to reliably tell it from the JetRanger.

Bell 412

Bell 412EP

Huey silhouette, but four rotor blades and two coupled turbines: the Bell 412 is the twin-engine multi-role helicopter for SAR, military and government agencies. Here is how to recognize it and its variants.

Bell 429 GlobalRanger

GlobalRanger

Two turbines, four rotor blades, an X-shaped tail rotor and a large door under the tail: the Bell 429 is Bell’s light twin for air rescue, police and corporate flights. Here is how to recognize it.

Bell 47

Bell Model 47

A bubble canopy like a soap bubble, an open tube tail boom, a piston engine on full display: in 1946 the Bell 47 became the first civil-certified helicopter. Here is how to recognize the classic and where to find one today.

Bell AH-1 Cobra / Viper

Bell Model 209

Slim as a knife, two crew in tandem, skids instead of wheels: the Bell AH-1 Cobra was the world’s first true attack helicopter. Here is how to tell Cobra, SuperCobra and Viper apart and who flies them.

Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey)

Huey

Two wide rotor blades, big sliding doors and that unmistakable slapping in the air: the Bell UH-1 “Huey” became an icon in the Vietnam War and flew with the Bundeswehr for over 50 years. Here is how to recognize it and where to find one today.