N985B - 1956 Bell 47H-1 Aircraft Registration

B47G

1956 BELL 47H-1

Aircraft Description

N985B is a 1956 Bell 47H-1, a single-engine reciprocating (piston) aircraft registered to Faltyn Paul Douglas in Niagara Falls, NY. This aircraft holds a standard airworthiness certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration on July 2, 1956. The registration certificate was issued on September 23, 2014. The registration is set to expire on September 30, 2027. Powered by a Franklin 6V4 SERIES engine producing 210 horsepower, N985B is. The aircraft's Mode S transponder code is ADBDD0 (hex), used for ADS-B identification and flight tracking. The FAA registry record for N985B was last updated on March 17, 2023. AviatorDB monitors aircraft positions through ADS-B surveillance data and updates records as new position data is received.

The Bell 47G, the world's first commercially successful helicopter design, revolutionized both civilian and military aviation as the initial helicopter to receive FAA civil certification. First flown in December 1945, it was a single-rotor light utility helicopter that could carry one pilot plus two passengers. With its distinctive 37-foot rotor diameter and transparent "goldfish bowl" cockpit enclosure, the 47G reached speeds of 105 miles per hour. Manufactured by Bell Aircraft Corporation, over 3,300 47G variants were produced between 1954 and 1974. AviatorDB tracks 4,083 Bell aircraft currently registered in the FAA database. The ICAO type designator for this aircraft model is B47G.

AviatorDB has found no NTSB accident or incident reports involving N985B. AviatorDB cross-references all FAA registration data with NTSB accident and incident reports, providing a comprehensive safety overview for every registered aircraft in the United States.

Model Year
1956
Manufacturer
BELL
Model
47H-1
Type Aircraft
Rotorcraft
ICAO Type Code
B47G47G
Cruise Speed
78 mph
Weight Class
Up to 12,500 lbs
Airworthiness Date
July 2, 1956
Classification
Standard Category
Type Registration
Individual
Status
Valid Registration
Cert Issue Date
April 22, 2026

Registered Owner

Name
MCGEE KENNETH J
Address
7208 AIRLIE PL
City
WILMINGTON
State / Zip Code
North Carolina28403-3780
Country
United States

Powerplant & Avionics

Engine Type
Reciprocating
Number of Engines
1
Engine Manufacturer
FRANKLIN
Engine Model
6V4 SERIES
Horsepower
210 HP
Mode S Code (Oct)
53336720
Mode S Code (Hex)
ADBDD0

Additional Details

Registration
N985B
Serial Number
1362
Number of Engines
1
Number of Seats
3
Expiration Date
April 30, 2033
Last Action Date
April 22, 2026
Last Update Date
January 19, 2026
Unique ID
00973660

Data Source

Data provided by the US Federal Aviation Administration. View on FAA.gov

Last updated: 2026-05-01 01:32:20 UTC