The Bell HSL (Model 61) was an American 1950s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter built by the Bell Helicopter company, the only tandem rotor type designed by Bell. It had its first flight in 1953 and entered service with the U.S. Navy in 1957. Over 50 models were produced but it was out of service by 1960 such was the pace of helicopter development in this period.
The helicopter had two main rotors at either end of the fuselage tube, linked by a transmission but powered by a single Pratt & Whitney R-2800-50m, which was an 18-cylinder air-cooled radial engine. The front rotor shaft was actually slightly ahead of pilots in the front cockpit.
Design and development
XHSL-1 prototype on a test flight
The prototype Bell Model 61 first flew on 3 March 1953; it had been designed to meet a United States Navy requirement for an anti-submarine warfare helicopter. In June 1950, the Model 61 was announced as the winner of the competition, and three XHSL-1 evaluation aircraft were ordered. The Model 61 had a rectangular-section fuselage structure and four-leg, six-wheel landing gear. It was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-2800radial engine mounted in the aft fuselage. Crew included two pilots and two sonar operators.[1]
Because of the urgency of the requirement, low-rate production was ordered almost immediately after Bell received a contract for three XHSL-1s. The Navy eventually contracted for at least 160 production aircraft, including 18 intended for the BritishRoyal Navy. Bureau Numbers were assigned for a total of 234. Because of development problems that resulted in poor schedule performance to the contract, only 50 were built. Although all were delivered, after service test and acceptance only a handful were used, for the development of airborne mine sweeping. The rest were delivered directly into storage and were subsequently struck off.
Operational history
HSL-1 in a hover over waterHSL-1 towing test
The HSLs were not used operationally. Approximately seven were assigned to the U.S. Naval Air Mine Defense Unit at Panama City, Florida, for the development of airborne mine-sweeping, the first arriving in September 1956 and the last being struck off in early 1960.
Variants
XHSL-1
two experimental flight test and one static test article
HSL-1
production version, 50 built.
Bell Model 61
Company designation for the HSL
Bell D-116
A proposed civil variant of the Model 61, not proceeded with.
Bell D-216
A proposed variant of the HSL, not proceeded with.
Bell D-238
A proposed variant of the HSL, not proceeded with.
