Every aircraft has a story, and this Bell 47 has been quietly waiting for its next chapter.
CENEGEX Aviation has officially purchased G-BHNV, a Westland Bell 47G-3B-1 Sioux, with one simple but ambitious goal: to restore it, bring it back to life, and get it flying again.
For years, this iconic helicopter has been sitting in storage, no longer flying, but certainly not forgotten. The photo we have shows it back when it was still airworthy, looking every bit as recognisable as a Bell 47 should, with its bubble canopy and exposed welded tube tail boom.
G-BHNV was first recorded as airworthy on 28th June 1982, with the last logbook date showing 28th May 1989. It has been with its previous owner since 1982, so after 44 years, it is about to begin a brand-new chapter.
15th September 2026 is collection day, and we are ridiculously excited. There is just one small detail: we have not actually seen it yet!
We already know it needs new rotor blades and a new bubble, and we are sure there will be plenty more to discover once it has been properly inspected by the specialists. Logbooks, memories, missing pieces, surprises, and a whole lot of history are about to come together as we start uncovering exactly what this beautiful old aircraft needs.
Is this the beginning of a restoration, a historical rescue mission, or an ambitious aviation adventure? Probably all three. We will be documenting the whole journey, from collection to renovation, sharing the discoveries, the challenges, the history, and hopefully one day, the moment G-BHNV takes to the sky again.
If anyone remembers G-BHNV, has photos, stories, logbook knowledge, or any information about its flying days, we would love to hear from you. This old Bell 47 still has people talking, and now it is time to see where the next chapter takes us.
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