Bell Model 204 / Model 205

The Bell Model 204 and related 205 series were commercial developments of the popular UH-1 Iroquois transport helicopters.

Detailing the development and operational history of the Bell Model 204 / Model 205 Multipurpose / Utility Medium-Lift Helicopter.  Entry last updated on 6/22/2018. Authored by Staff Writer. Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com

The Model 204 proved a critical success for Bell Helicopter in the 1950s and 1960s. It not only became the iconic UH-1 "Huey / Iroquois" transport of the Vietnam War (1955-1975) and revolutionized helicopter warfare from then on but it also proved itself a successful commercial market platform. The Model 204 and Model 205 were civilian-minded offshoots of the military UH-1 and based in the UH-1B and UH-1H, respectively. A prototype Model 204 went into the air for the first time on October 22nd, 1956 and production spanned from 1956 until the 1980s - seeing acceptance in government and law enforcement services as well as other sectors.

The Model 204 was born from a 1955 United States Army requirement calling for a utility-minded transport helicopter. Bell used this work to produce both the military "Huey" as well as its civilian-market counterparts, the Model 204 and Model 205. The key to the success of the series was the introduction of the turboshaft engine which, up to this point, had not widely seen as a viable part of a helicopter's makeup. The turboshaft allowed for much improved performance and power gains over previous propulsion systems and this helped to drive the Huey family to the forefront of helicopter design around the world - making it one of the most successful products of its era.

The Model 204 was based in the UH-1B production offering. The Model 204B was given the Lycoming T53-09A engine and could carry up to ten passengers. Agusta-Bell of Italy produced this mark under license as the "AB204". Similarly, Fuji-Bell (Fuji Heavy Industries) of Japan manufactured the produced as the Model 204B-2. These were also taken on by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) under the name of "Hiyodori".

The Model 204B carried a crew of one or two pilots and had an eight-to-nine seat passenger configuration. It could carry up to 3,000lb of cargo in lieu of persons. Overall length was 41.7 feet with an overall rotor diameter of 48 feet and a height of 14.6 feet. Empty weight was 4,600lb against an MTOW of 9,500lb. Power was served from a Lycoming T53-L-11A turboshaft engine of 1,100 horsepower output driving a two-bladed main rotor and two-bladed tail rotor. Performance included a maximum speed of 135 miles per hour with a cruise speed of about 125mph. Range was out to 300 nautical miles and its service ceiling reached 19,400 feet. Rate-of-climb was 1,755 feet-per-minute.

The UH-1H became the basis for the Model 205A and these carried the T53-11A engine but could seat up to fourteen. The Model 205 was a larger and more powerful version of the Model 204, evolved by Bell in 1960 after successfully gaining the interest of the U.S. Army in such an improved form. The Model 205A-1 carried the T53-13A engine fit and Agusta-Bell featured this as their AB205. Fuji-Bell followed with the local FHI 205A-1. The Bell Model 205B saw only five produced with its T53-17 engine fit and the nose section and main rotor blades taken from the Model 212. The Bell Model 210 were based in the UH-1H as well but refurbished for resale as new. These were outfitted with the T53017 engine of greater power.

Agusta-Bell also produced the experimental Model 205BG(2 x French Gnome H1200 turboshaft engines) and Model 205TA (2 x French Turbomeca "Astazous" turboshaft engines). The Bell Model 208 was Bell's private venture project of 1965 which involved a twin-engine (2 x Continental XT67-T-1) configuration based on the UH-1D model.

The Model 205A++ served as an upgraded Model 205A featuring the T53-17 engine coupled to the Model 212's main rotor. The "Advanced Model 205B" was a proposed variant offered to, but not accepted by, Japan. The "Global Eagle" was a project fitting the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67D engine to the UH-1H framework complete with a revised tail rotor assembly. The "Huey 800" was another upgrade proposed with the LHTEC T800 turboshaft engine.

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