The past year in 2025, most likely due to the uncertain tariffs from the USA, has resulted in  very poor sales of the Bell 47 Book to new buyers. Even Canadian sales have slowed down. I  cut back on updating the Blog because of this.

Hopefully 2026 will be a better year for sales. I will continue to sell copies of the Bell 47 Book for $89.95 including shipping to both in Canada and the USA. Any new news on the US tariffs, and we will get back to you in a timely matter.

Stock of the Bell 47 Book is getting down and I have already decided that there will be no new books republished. Now is the time to purchase your own copy at the rate above including the postage for mailing the book to you.

Buy your copy before they are all gone. This book is the most detailed of any on the classic Bell Model 47 helicopter ever. This was the very first commercial helicopter in all the world.

Work continues on my next book on the history of helicopters in Canada pulling the story together up to 1966 covering mainly the piston years. 

I am still looking for sources of early helicopter photos/slides back in the 1940s to the mid 1960s to complement the rich history of rotary wing development across Canada. Please dig into your old albums for early helicopter photos.

Last year during September, I was contacted by Philippe Bieler from Wales. He told me about his skiing down the slopes of a mountain in British Columbia near Kemano, the site of the Aluminum Company of Canada major hydro power and smelter development back in 1953. He was able to accomplish this amazing venture via transport in an Okanagan/Alcan Bell 47D-1 helicopter. At the time he was employed as a rod man on surveying operations for the new water reservoir for the new Alcan hydro electric and smelter construction. It was always thought that the first attempt to use helicopters for skiing occurred back in Alberta during 1963.

Photo above is Phillipe Bieler in the BC mountains back in 1953 while working for Alcan. 

Just recently during January 2026, his story was published on the Vertical Daily website. Attached please see a copy of that story.  Enjoy this little known new piece of helicopter history.

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