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The Bell H-13 (model 47) 'Sioux' light observation helicopter was first flown in 1946 and owed it's credentials to it's predecessor, the Bell Model 30. The Bell Sioux, with a crew of three, was one of the most popular light utility helicopters ever built. The Bell model 47 was produced continuously from 1946 to 1973, and by Agusta, in Italy, through 1976. Produced in 20 different configurations, with model numbers ranging from A to T, the Bell model 47 was used in 40 countries.

An important Bell innovation during the early development of the helicopter was the use of short weighted gyro-stabilizer bar at 90° to, and beneath, the main rotor. The gyro-stabilizer bar, with streamlined counterweights at both tips, was linked to the rotor in such a way that it determined the plane of the rotor, and maintained it generally in the horizontal, regardless of the angle of the mast.

The stabilizer bar, connected to the cyclic pitch control, acted as a hinged flywheel utilizing gyroscopic inertia to keep the teetering rotor blades in-plane and independent of fuselage movement due to gusts of wind, providing stability during flight. Arthur Young, Bell's designer, ensured the system had high enough inertia so sufficient energy would be stored in the rotor to permit safe autorotation in event of engine failure, an important safety consideration.

The H-13 was used for observation, reconnaissance and in the Medivac role as a litter carrier in Korea, following initial fielding in 1951. In the Medivac role a cacoon-like stretcher pod could be mounted on each skid. A distinctive feature of the Bell H-13G was the now familiar "Goldfish bowl" plexiglas canopy, featured in the TV-series MASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital).

The H-13 earned the nickname "Angel of Mercy" for evacuating some 18,000 United Nation's casualties during the war. The Sioux also saw service during the early days of the Vietnam war before the fielding of the OH-6A Cayuse in early 1968.

The Sioux could be armed with twin M37C .30 Cal. machine guns on the XM1 armament subsystem or twin M60C 7.62mm machine guns on the M2 armament subsystem.

The Bell 47 was the first helicopter to be certified for civil use, in May 1946. It was largely designed by Arthur M. Young who assigned his helicopter patents to, and joined Bell Helicopter in 1941. Over 5,600 were produced through 1974, including 1200 under license in Italy, 239 in Japan, and 239 in the UK. The British version of the 47G, called by the British Army the Sioux, was built by Westland Helicopters for use by the Army Air Corps, who used it until the early 1980s.

Early models had open cockpits or sheet metal cabins, but the most common model, the 47G, introduced in 1953, can be recognized by the full bubble canopy, exposed welded-tube tail boom, and saddle fuel tanks. Later H and J models had a regular cabin with full cowling and monocoque tail boom. Engines were Franklin or Lycoming horizontally-opposed piston engines of 200 to 305 HP. Seating varied from two to four.

This was the helicopter popularized in the 1957–1959 television series The Whirlybirds, and later the movie and television series MASH. A design, as well as a utilitarian, success, it was added to the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art of New York in 1984. Many are still in use as trainers and in agriculture.

NASA had a number of Bell 47s during the Apollo program which astronauts used as a primitive trainer for the Lunar Lander. Eugene Cernan had a near disastrous accident shortly before his flight to the moon on Apollo 17 by crashing one into the Indian River at high speed.

The combined total of commercial and military versions of this series was 5,000. The U.S. Army Air Force The H-13 had a cruising speed of 85 mph with a range of 255 miles.

Clever Dick Doll removed the screw end, scored, and then carefully removed the excess glass of the light bulb before creating the cockpit details of his Bell Sioux. Notice he sprayed the interior of the model black.