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BELL TH-13T SIOUX
N170HF    s/n 67-17005
Price Reduced $185,000
"Oshkosh 2007 Best Helicopter"  

Airframe:                 4322.4 Hrs TTSNEW

Engine:                      Lycoming VO435-A-1F, 260 hp
                                    123 Hrs SMOH
                                    High Dome Cylinder Conversion 

Main Rotor Blades:      -23 Series, just acquired from Bell Helicopter at a cost of $67,000 with 4772 and 4742 hours remaining of useful life of 5000 hours.                   

Tail Rotor Blades:        853 Hrs Remaining      

Exterior:                  Converted to Bell OH-13S for replication of original armed Scout helicopters sent to Vietnam in 1965 with the 1/9^th Cavalry, 1^st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile).

AVIONICS:
GPS – Northstar (VFR)
KY 155 and KY 196
Transponder
Intercom
Fuel Totalizer 

EQUIPMENT:
Armament M-2 Weapon System (replica):

• One M-60 machine gun (gas firing)
• Four rocket tubes
• Custom storage container for each replica weapon system

AIRCRAFT MODIFICATIONS:

1. Aircraft appearance: converted to Bell OH-13S for replication of original armed Scout helicopters sent to Vietnam in 1965 with the 1/ 9^th Cavalry, 1^st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile). The Bell OH-13S and TH-13T were identical helicopters with the only difference being in cabin width and instrumentation of the TH-13T. The instrumentation of our aircraft has been converted to that of the original OH-13S except for several modern avionics.

2. Aircraft armament system: the OH-13S in Vietnam were armed with the M-2 gun system consisting of a skid mounted M-60 machine gun and four 2.75 mm rocket tubes. We have had replicated this exact same armament system that is capable of being mounted and operated (machine gun only) for performances. The M-60 machine gun has been converted to a gas (propane) operation featuring realistic sound, flash, and smoke of the original M-60 and capable of being operated by the pilot. We have had built custom storage containers for this weapon system.

MISCELLANEOUS:
Fresh inspection - January 2008
Performance: Speed 65 kts, Range 200 miles
Aircraft current on maintenance program and all AD’s
Standard Airworthiness Certification
Aircraft has been meticulously restored to show quality 

HISTORY of n/s 67-17005:
Delivered to the Army as a TH–13T Sioux instrument trainer on June 3, 1968 at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. During the aircraft’s Army service it was used as an instrument trainer and for general utility purposes. In 1986, the aircraft was released from Army service and provided for law enforcement purposes to the Ascension Parish Sheriff Department, Louisiana where it served until 1998 when the A.A.H.F. acquired the aircraft.

The models OH–13S and TH–13T were the last two versions of the H–13 the Army operated and were very similar to each other except in cabin width and instrumentation. In order to memorialize the last Army combat use of the H–13, the AAHF decided to restore this aircraft to appear as an armed scout OH–13S Sioux in service with A Troop, 1/9th CAV, 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam around early 1966. This legendary unit is credited with initiating more than half of the 1st CAV enemy contacts. Over 18 months and $200,000 were used in the complete restoration of this aircraft. It is the only known flying former Army H–13 restored back to it’s Army appearance as an armed scout.

HISTORY of TH-13T Sioux:
The Bell Helicopter Company Model 47 first flew on December 8, 1945 and became the first helicopter produced on a large – scale to enter U.S. Army service as the H–13 Sioux. Between 1946 and 1970 the Army procured a total of 2,197 H–13 helicopters in many different variants. The H–13 Sioux was used by the Army for observation, utility, medical evacuation, and training. It saw extensive use during the Korean conflict where it proved the value of the light helicopter, especially for medical evacuation purposes as highlighted in the movie/TV series "M.A.S.H.". On March 24, 1958 the Army authorized the formation of the 7292nd Aerial Combat Reconnaissance Company (ACR) at Fort Rucker, AL for the purpose of concept testing of armed helicopters. The H–13 Sioux was the ACR primary aircraft test bed for a myriad of weapons tests that lasted until 1963. The armed OH–13 Sioux first saw combat service in Vietnam in 1962 and was deployed to Vietnam in 1965 in quantities with the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) where it initially served with the legendary 1st Squadron/9th Cavalry in the armed scout role with the OH–13S model. The OH–13S proved successful in the armed scout role and when teamed with a UH–1 HUEY gunship called a "pink team" became the most common and highly effective tactical combination used by the Air Cav. Superseded by more maneuverable turbine–powered scout helicopters in the late 1960’s, little credit has been given to the H–13’s significant role in the development of Air Cavalry tactics or the service it rendered during the Vietnam conflict.

SPECIFICATIONS SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION UPON INSPECTION