Latin American Military - Argentina - Prefectura Naval Argentina (PNA)

Latin American Military - Argentina - Prefectura Naval Argentina (PNA) - Bell 47 Sioux

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Revised: June 20, 2010
Copyright © 1997-2010 by Jean Charles Barroux - jbarroux@LAMilitary.org

Prefectura Naval Argentina's Bell 47J-2A PM-22 sometime during the late 1960s. (Germán Raute)

Five Bell 47G/Js Sioux were purchased, in different batches, for service with the Prefectura Naval Argentina (PNA) for basic helicopter training, MEDEVAC and some basic SAR.

The first acquired, in 1962, was a single Bell 47J-2 serialled PM-21, (C/N 1806), which as w/o on January 1964 in an unspecified accident. But there is another report that PM-21 was actually wfu from service in April 13, 1963 and eventually became LV-GYE. Could this discrepancy be resolved?

As a replacement a second Bell 47J-2A, serialled PM-22, (C/N 3320), was received in July 1965 and served until 1970 when it was also wfu and sold to the civilian market as LV-AIF, being its last user Misiones Helicópteros. PM-22 did participate in an Argentinean movie called Un Elefante Color Ilusión, from which the shot below was taken.

Prefectura Naval Argentina's Bell 47J-2A PM-22 in the movie Un Elefante Color Ilusión in 1970. (Unknown)

A third example would be acquired in 1966 in the form of a Bell 47G-4A serialled PM-23 and assigned to the Escuela de Pilotos Helicópteristas. Its fate and C/N are unknown.

The last examples would be a pair, serialled PM-24, (C/N 3160, former 0537/4-H-4), and PM-25, (C/N 3162, former 0538/4-H-5), which were obtained used from the Armada República Argentina (ARA) in 1969 and were of the Bell 47G-4 submodel.

The retirement dates for these aircraft are not clear since one sources states that two of these were still in operations by 1988 while another indicates that by 1971 they were all withdrawn from service. They were replaced in their training and other functions by the Hughes 369HS.

Bell 47 Sioux

Bell 47J-2 Sioux light utility, training and observation helicopter

Designation: Bell 47J-2 Sioux
Manufacturer: Bell, U.S.A.
Crew: 1
Passengers: 1 or 2, can carry 2 stretchers, one on each skid
Construction: ---
Engine: 1 x Lycoming TVO-435-F1A
Engine Type: Flat six piston
Engine Thrust: 210 kW (280 hp)
Rotors: 2 bladed main rotor and 2 bladed tail rotor
Main Rotor Diameter: 11.32 m
Main Rotor Disk Area: 100.8 m²
Fuselage Length: 9.63 m
Overall Length: 13.30 m
Height: 2.83 m
Empty Weight: 858 kg
Max. Weight MTOW: 1,340 kg 
Max. Weight with Sling: --- kg
Max. Speed: 170 km/h
Max. Speed at Sea Level: --- km/h
Max. Cruising Speed: 170 km/h
Normal Cruising Speed: 135 km/h @ 5,000 ft.
Initial Rate of Climb: 880 ft./min
Ceiling: 19,000 ft.
Howering Ceiling: 12,700 ft.
Fuel Capacity: --- lts
Range on Internal Fuel: 395 km
Range with Max. Fuel: 395 km
Range with Max. Payload: --- km
Combat Radius: --- km ()
Endurance: --- Hrs
Useful Load: --- kg
Radar: N/A
EW: N/A
Avionics: ---
Weapons: None.
Format: 1.0
Notes: Specifications for the exact submodel 47G-3B-2A which was not
   the one in service.

S/N       C/N        Unit          Built       Bought      Disposition         Notes
PM-21     1806       SrvdeAviacion --/---/---- --/---/1962 w/o --/Jan/1964     To PA-21

Bell 47J-2A Sioux light utility, training and observation helicopter

Designation: Bell 47J-2A Sioux
Manufacturer: Bell, U.S.A.
Crew: 1
Passengers: 1 or 2, can carry 2 stretchers, one on each skid
Construction: ---
Engine: 1 x Lycoming TVO-435-F1A
Engine Type: Flat six piston
Engine Thrust: 210 kW (280 hp)
Rotors: 2 bladed main rotor and 2 bladed tail rotor
Main Rotor Diameter: 11.32 m
Main Rotor Disk Area: 100.8 m²
Fuselage Length: 9.63 m
Overall Length: 13.30 m
Height: 2.83 m
Empty Weight: 858 kg
Max. Weight MTOW: 1,340 kg 
Max. Weight with Sling: --- kg
Max. Speed: 170 km/h
Max. Speed at Sea Level: --- km/h
Max. Cruising Speed: 170 km/h
Normal Cruising Speed: 135 km/h @ 5,000 ft.
Initial Rate of Climb: 880 ft./min
Ceiling: 19,000 ft.
Howering Ceiling: 12,700 ft.
Fuel Capacity: --- lts
Range on Internal Fuel: 395 km
Range with Max. Fuel: 395 km
Range with Max. Payload: --- km
Combat Radius: --- km ()
Endurance: --- Hrs
Useful Load: --- kg
Radar: N/A
EW: N/A
Avionics: ---
Weapons: None.
Format: 1.0
Notes: Specifications for the exact submodel 47G-3B-2A which was not
   the one in service.

S/N       C/N        Unit          Built       Bought      Disposition         Notes
PM-22     3320       SrvdeAviacion --/---/---- --/Jul/1965 wfu --/---/1969     To PA-22, to LV-AIF

Bell 47G-4A Sioux light utility, training and observation helicopter

Designation: Bell 47G-4A Sioux
Manufacturer: Bell, U.S.A.
Crew: 1
Passengers: 1 or 2, can carry 2 stretchers, one on each skid
Construction: ---
Engine: 1 x Lycoming TVO-435-F1A
Engine Type: Flat six piston
Engine Thrust: 210 kW (280 hp)
Rotors: 2 bladed main rotor and 2 bladed tail rotor
Main Rotor Diameter: 11.32 m
Main Rotor Disk Area: 100.8 m²
Fuselage Length: 9.63 m
Overall Length: 13.30 m
Height: 2.83 m
Empty Weight: 858 kg
Max. Weight MTOW: 1,340 kg 
Max. Weight with Sling: --- kg
Max. Speed: 170 km/h
Max. Speed at Sea Level: --- km/h
Max. Cruising Speed: 170 km/h
Normal Cruising Speed: 135 km/h @ 5,000 ft.
Initial Rate of Climb: 880 ft./min
Ceiling: 19,000 ft.
Howering Ceiling: 12,700 ft.
Fuel Capacity: --- lts
Range on Internal Fuel: 395 km
Range with Max. Fuel: 395 km
Range with Max. Payload: --- km
Combat Radius: --- km ()
Endurance: --- Hrs
Useful Load: --- kg
Radar: N/A
EW: N/A
Avionics: ---
Weapons: None.
Format: 1.0
Notes: Specifications for the exact submodel 47G-3B-2A which was not the
   one in service.

S/N       C/N        Unit          Built       Bought      Disposition         Notes
PM-23     --         SrvdeAviacion --/---/---- --/---/1966 wfu --/---/1971     To PA-23

Bell 47G-4 Sioux light utility, training and observation helicopter

Designation: Bell 47G-4 Sioux
Manufacturer: Bell, U.S.A.
Crew: 1
Passengers: 1 or 2, can carry 2 stretchers, one on each skid
Construction: ---
Engine: 1 x Lycoming TVO-435-F1A
Engine Type: Flat six piston
Engine Thrust: 210 kW (280 hp)
Rotors: 2 bladed main rotor and 2 bladed tail rotor
Main Rotor Diameter: 11.32 m
Main Rotor Disk Area: 100.8 m²
Fuselage Length: 9.63 m
Overall Length: 13.30 m
Height: 2.83 m
Empty Weight: 858 kg
Max. Weight MTOW: 1,340 kg 
Max. Weight with Sling: --- kg
Max. Speed: 170 km/h
Max. Speed at Sea Level: --- km/h
Max. Cruising Speed: 170 km/h
Normal Cruising Speed: 135 km/h @ 5,000 ft.
Initial Rate of Climb: 880 ft./min
Ceiling: 19,000 ft.
Howering Ceiling: 12,700 ft.
Fuel Capacity: --- lts
Range on Internal Fuel: 395 km
Range with Max. Fuel: 395 km
Range with Max. Payload: --- km
Combat Radius: --- km ()
Endurance: --- Hrs
Useful Load: --- kg
Radar: N/A
EW: N/A
Avionics: ---
Weapons: None.
Format: 1.0
Notes: Specifications for the exact submodel 47G-3B-2A which was not the
   one in service.

S/N       C/N        Unit          Built       Bought      Disposition         Notes
PM-24     3160       SrvdeAviacion --/---/---- --/---/1969 wfu --/---/1971     Ex-ARA COAN 0537/4-H-4, to PA-24
PM-25     3162       SrvdeAviacion --/---/---- --/---/1969 wfu --/---/1971     Ex-ARA COAN 0538/4-H-5, to PA-25

Open Questions

A single Bell 47J-2 serialled PM-21, (C/N 1806), was acquired in 1962 and was w/o on January 1964 in an unspecified accident. But there is another report that PM-21 was actually wfu from service in April 13, 1963 and eventually became LV-GYE. Could this discrepancy be resolved?

What is the missing C/N for PM-23?

Did the fifth aircraft PM-25 really existed?

What units did operate them?

What were it's use by which unit?

When were they built? Bought? Disposed of?

What are the missing detailed technical specifications for all of these submodels?

Any public photos, references or URLs on these particular aircraft?

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