Bell Aircraft's first helicopter design was basically handed to them on a plate by a guy named Andrew Young who had designed it pretty much all by himself. Young had made a series of scale models until he had devised the stabilizer bar principle for aircraft stability.
The Model 30 was really more of a proof of concept aircraft, rather than a production design. But very soon after, the "guts" of the Model 30, stripped of virtually every ounce of excess weight, would result in the Model 47, which would fly in 1945. You might recall seeing the Model 47 from the TV series MASH. The Model 47, or H-13 in Army parlance, would serve the US from 1946 well into the Vietnam War. Quite a few Model 47s are still used today in the US and elsewhere.
The nifty part of this video is watching the Model 30 flying indoors. I can just imagine all the FAA Inspectors today watching and having kittens.
There was even a television series,"Whirlybirds", that starred the Model 47.
Posted by: timactual | 11/19/2017 at 11:38 AM
I've seen a few in use as Ag sprayers. There was one based in Clay County,NC they would haul around on a trailer to where it was to be used.
Bell stopped supporting the things back in the 70s as I recall.
Posted by: Quartermaster | 11/20/2017 at 06:54 AM