The Bell 47 has officially emerged from its long-term hidden home and begun the next chapter of its restoration journey. Take a peek:
Retrieving a helicopter that has sat untouched for years is never as simple as turning up with a trailer. With the aircraft's condition still largely unknown, moving it safely required specialist lifting equipment. A large hydraulic loader crane was used to carefully lift the Bell 47 clear of its surroundings before positioning it onto the truck.
Watching the helicopter rise gracefully into the air was both exhilarating and nerve-racking.
At this stage, the aircraft has not yet undergone a detailed structural inspection. While Bell 47 airframes are renowned for their robust tubular steel construction, there is always a degree of uncertainty when lifting an aircraft that has spent an extended period out of service. Every movement was carefully monitored as the helicopter hung suspended above the ground, supported by only a lifting sling.
For a few moments, our future project was quite literally hanging in the balance.
Our ultimate goal is to see this Bell 47 flying once again. Seeing it airborne for the first time in years was an exciting sight, but not quite in the way we hope to see it in the future. This flight lasted only a few minutes and required a crane rather than it's Lycoming engine.
Once safely on the transporter, the helicopter was secured for the journey to its new home. With the move complete, the Bell 47 began travelling to another undisclosed location where the real work will soon begin.
Interestingly, the helicopter travelled uncovered, making it hard to miss as it made its way across the UK. Unsurprisingly, it attracted plenty of attention from passing motorists and onlookers. More than a few people could be heard saying, "That looks like a helicopter!"
Which, considering some of the unusual loads seen on British roads, is a pretty good start.
To protect the privacy of those involved and the security of the project, certain people, vehicles, locations and identifying details have been removed or obscured in our photos.
Now I'm curious. Did you spot it on the road?
More importantly, would you have recognised it as a Bell 47?
There is much more to reveal in the coming weeks as we begin uncovering exactly what condition this iconic helicopter is in and what it will take to return it to the skies where it belongs.
Stay tuned. The adventure is only just beginning.
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