VFS Website
  • VIEW CART
  • CUSTOMER SUPPORT
  • MY STORE ACCOUNT
  • CONTACT US
  • STORE HOME
  • 5Prime
  • Forum Proceedings
  • Workshops
  • Technical Meetings
  • Vertiflite
  • Books, CDs & Gifts
Unable to log in or get member pricing? Having trouble changing your password?

Please review our Frequently Asked Questions for complete information on these and other common situations.
 

Vertical Flight Library & Store

CHECKOUT

0 Item(s) In Cart Total: $0.00


The Forgotten Bell HSL

  • Your Path :
  • Home
  • > The Forgotten Bell HSL
The%20Forgotten%20Bell%20HSL

The Forgotten Bell HSL

  • SKU # : b_0942612701
  • U.S. Navy's First All-Weather Anti-Submarine Warfare Helicopter

  • Your Price : $25.00
  • Join or log in to receive the member price of $15.00!


VFS member?
Don't add this to your cart just yet!
Be sure to log in first to receive the member price of $15.00!

 
Add To Cart

Add to Wish List

Reward Value:
(50) Member Points

The Forgotten Bell HSL

Authors / Details:

The Bell company won a Navy design competition in June 1950 for a helicopter specifically for anti-submarine warfare. This design, Bell Model 61, was the only Bell helicopter using the tandem-rotor layout; it was powered by a 2400 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-50 engine and was intended to carry air-to-surface missiles such as the Fairchild Petrel, as well as dipping ASDIC. Three XHSL-1 were ordered, the first of these flying on March 4, 1953, followed by a production contract for 78, including 18 destined for the Britain's Fleet Air Arm.

After Navy evaluation and a fatal accident, however, the HSL was determined to be less satisfactory for the intended mission than a backup design that had been initiated with Sikorsky Aircraft during the HSL's troubled development. Production was terminated at 50 aircraft, none of which were ever used operationally. About half were delivered directly into Navy storage, never to fly again. A handful were used in the development and qualification of airborne minesweeping equipment and techniques. Minesweeping turned out to be a mission for which it was well suited, but not one that justified the continued operation of a limited number of a unique helicopter in the Navy's inventory. By 1960, all surviving HSLs had been broken up. Not even parts remain.

Author: Tommy H. Thomason
Publisher: Steve Ginter, 2005
Paperback, 89 pages
Hand signed by author
Weight: 8 ounces
Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 inches
ISBN: 0-942612-70-1


Recently Viewed Items

  • The Forgotten Bell HSL

    Member Price :
    $15.00
    Your Price :
    $25.00

Popular Products

  • Master Card
  • Visa
  • American Express
  • Customer Support
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy and Security Policies
  • Refund Policies

Copyright © 2021 The Vertical Flight Society. All rights reserved.