By the time it was chosen, the Bell 47J had proven itself to be safe and reliable enough to be used as the First Presidental Helicopter.  In 1957 the Air Force purchased two Bell 47Js to be used as presidental transports for President Eisenhower.  These new aircraft were nearly identical to the standard production Ranger configured as a commercial executive transport. Bell only added two new features to the presidential version; all-metal rotor blades to increase the helicopter's useful load, and special tinting to the huge plexiglass nose bubble to reduce glare and heat and called them the UH-13J.  The Air Force retired both of the former Presidential transport UH-13J's in 1967 and transferred the helicopters to museums the following year. The Smithsonian Institution received 57-2729 and the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, accepted the other aircraft, serial number 57-2728.

In 1954,Bell started building the Model 47H, a version that weighed less than pervious models because a new stressed-skin, semi-monocoque tail boom replaced the old welded steel-tube boom. A pilot could fly the 47H about 20 percent faster than older models. The new version also carried an additional seat and a relatively spacious baggage compartment. In 1955, Bell followed up the 47H with the 47J Ranger, a version designed to appeal to the business community. The "Ranger" could accommodate three passengers seated on a bench behind a single pilot.

Bell 47Js were produced into the early 1970s and were all called Bell Rangers.  This makes the connection between the Bell 47J and the Bell Jetranger obvious.

Our 47J-2 also has a history behind it.  It was procured by the Los Angeles, California Fire Department and used as LAFD No. 2 for many years.  When the aircraft was stripped for painting a few years ago, the paint job shown below was still evident.