{
  "id": "bell-205",
  "name": "Bell 205",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "air",
  "country": "USA",
  "category": "Utility helicopter",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1959,
  "operators": [
    "USA",
    "ALB",
    "ARG",
    "BIH",
    "BOL",
    "BRA",
    "CHE",
    "CHL",
    "COL",
    "DOM",
    "ESP",
    "GEO",
    "GRC",
    "GTM",
    "HND",
    "IDN",
    "IRN",
    "IRQ",
    "ITA",
    "JOR",
    "JPN",
    "KAZ",
    "KEN",
    "KOR",
    "LBN",
    "MEX",
    "MKD",
    "OMN",
    "PAK",
    "PAN",
    "PHL",
    "PNG",
    "PRY",
    "SDN",
    "SEN",
    "SLV",
    "THA",
    "TUN",
    "TUR",
    "TWN",
    "TZA",
    "URY",
    "VNM",
    "YEM",
    "ZMB"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 44,
  "summary": "The Bell 204 and 205 are the civilian versions of the UH-1 Iroquois single-engine military helicopter of the Huey family of helicopters. They are type-certificated in the transport category and are used in a wide variety of applications, including crop dusting, cargo lifting, and aerial firefighting.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 2,
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "length_m",
      "v": 12.7,
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 4.45,
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 2087,
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Empty weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 4309,
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Max takeoff weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "1 × Lycoming T53-L-11A",
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thrust / power",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "1,100 shp (820 kW)",
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Cruise speed",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "206 km/h",
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "ceiling_m",
      "v": 5910,
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rate of climb",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "8.92 m/s",
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Main Gun System",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "None normally fitted; all provisioned for pintle-mounted 7.62-mm M60 machine guns.",
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "XH-40",
      "text": "The initial Bell 204 prototype. Three prototypes were built, equipped with the Lycoming XT-53-L-1 engine of 700 shp (520 kW).",
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "YH-40",
      "text": "Six aircraft for evaluation, as XH-40 with 12-inch (300 mm) cabin stretch and other modifications.",
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Bell Model 533",
      "text": "One YH-40BF rebuilt as a flight test bed with turbojet engines and wings.",
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "HU-1A",
      "text": "Initial Bell 204 production model, predesignated as the UH-1A in 1962. 182 built.",
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "TH-1A",
      "text": "UH-1A with dual controls and blind-flying instruments, 14 conversions.",
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "XH-1A",
      "text": "A single UH-1A was predesignated for grenade launcher testing in 1960.",
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "HU-1B",
      "text": "Upgraded HU-1A, various external and rotor improvements. Redesignated UH-1B in 1962. 1014 built plus four prototypes designated YUH-1B.",
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "NUH-1B",
      "text": "A single test aircraft, serial number 64–18261.",
      "src": [
        "weg-bell-205"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "helicopter",
  "image": {
    "file": "bell-205.jpg",
    "thumb": "bell-205-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "R6, State & Private Forestry, Forest Health Protection",
    "license": "Public domain",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1988._Bell_205_spray_helicopter._Western_spruce_budworm_control_project._Warm_Springs_Indian_Reservation._(36362830325).jpg",
    "title": "File:1988. Bell 205 spray helicopter. Western spruce budworm control project. Warm Springs Indian Reservation. (36362830325).jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Added photo (Public domain)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/bell-205.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-bell-205": {
      "title": "Bell 205 American Utility Helicopter",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/Bell_205_American_Utility_Helicopter",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}