AB 47

The Agusta‑AB 47 is an Italian‑built version of the American Bell 47, produced under license by the Agusta company from the late 1940s through the 1970s. Its first flight under Agusta’s control occurred in 1948, and the type quickly became the backbone of Italy’s post‑war rotary‑wing fleet. Powered by a single Lycoming O‑435 engine delivering roughly 190 horsepower, the aircraft features the iconic Bell‑style three‑blade fully articulated main rotor and a narrow, tubular steel fuselage capped with a large, bubble‑shaped cockpit that provides excellent visibility. Early models were equipped with a two‑seat configuration, while later variants added a third seat or a stretched cabin for utility missions. The AB 47 proved exceptionally versatile, serving as a trainer for military pilots, a light transport for police and medical evacuation, and a platform for agricultural spraying and aerial photography. Its simple mechanics, low operating cost, and forgiving flight characteristics helped to popularize helicopter operations worldwide. The Agusta‑built AB 47 therefore holds a pivotal place in aviation history as the first mass‑produced European helicopter that democratized rotary‑wing flight and laid the groundwork for subsequent Agusta designs.