Bell 206

Bell 206 JetRanger/LongRanger
	AnLAPDBell 206 JetRanger
Role	Multipurposeutility helicopter
National origin	United States/Canada
Manufacturer	Bell Helicopter
First flight	December 8, 1962 (206); January 10, 1966 (206A)
Introduction	1967
Status	In service
Produced	1962–2017
Number built	7,300
Developed from	Bell YOH-4
Variants	Bell OH-58 Kiowa
Developed into	Bell 407

TheBell 206is a family of two-bladed, single- and twin-enginedhelicopters,manufactured byBell Helicopterat itsMirabel, Quebec,plant. Originally developed as theBell YOH-4for theUnited States Army'sLight Observation Helicopterprogram, it was not selected by the Army. Bell redesigned theairframeand successfully marketed the aircraft commercially as the five-placeBell 206A JetRanger.The new design was eventually selected by the Army as theOH-58 Kiowa.

Bell also developed a seven-placeLongRanger,which was later offered with a twin-engined option as theTwinRanger,while Tridair Helicopters offers a similar conversion of the LongRanger called theGemini ST.TheICAO-assigned model designation "B06" is used onflight plansfor the JetRanger and LongRanger, and the designation "B06T" is used for the twin-engined TwinRangers.

Development[edit]

Origins and JetRanger[edit]

On October 14, 1960, theUnited States Navysolicited responses from 25 aircraft manufacturers to a request for proposals (RFP) on behalf of the Army for the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH). Bell entered the competition along with 12 other manufacturers, includingHiller AircraftandHughes Tool Co., Aircraft Division.^[5]Bell submitted theD-250design, which would be designated as theYHO-4.^[6]On May 19, 1961, Bell and Hiller were announced as winners of the design competition.^[7]^[8]

Bell developed the D-250 design into the Bell 206 aircraft, redesignated as YOH-4A in 1962, and produced five prototype aircraft for the Army's test and evaluation phase. The first prototype flew on December 8, 1962.^[1]The YOH-4A also came to be known as "The Ugly Duckling" in comparison to the other contending aircraft.^[1]Following a fly-off of the Bell, Hughes and Fairchild-Hiller prototypes, theHughes OH-6was selected in May 1965.^[9]

When the YOH-4A was eliminated by the Army, Bell went about solving the problem of marketing the aircraft. In addition to the image problem, the helicopter lacked cargo space and only provided cramped seating for the planned three passengers. The solution was a redesigned fuselage, sleeker and aesthetically appealing, adding 16 ft³(0.45 m³) of cargo space in the process.^[10]A Bell executive contributed to this redesign by drawing on a sketch two lines extending the fuselage to where it meets the tail.^[11]The redesign was designated Bell 206A, and Bell President Edwin J. Ducayet named it the JetRanger, denoting an evolution from the popularModel 47J Ranger.

Bell Helicopter ended production of the Bell 206B-3 version in 2010.^[12]^[3]In 2011, used 206B-3s sold for around $1.4 million depending upon the equipment and configuration.^[13]Bell intends for theBell 505 Jet Ranger Xto replace the 206 five-seat versions from around 2015 and compete with theRobinson R66.^[14]

LongRanger[edit]

The 206L LongRanger is a stretched variant with seating for seven. The fuselage, stretched a total of 30 inches (760 mm), adds two rear-facing seats between the front and rear seats. Since 1975, Bell has produced more than 1,700 LongRangers across all variant types. In 1981, a military version, the 206L TexasRanger was released. The original 206L used anAllison 250-C20B engine, and a series of model upgrades replaced this engine with more powerful versions; the 206L-1 used a 250-C28, and the 206L-3 and 206L-4 used the 250-C30P.

In both applications, the 250-C30P is derated from 650 hp for takeoff and 501 hp continuous. The 206L-3 is transmission-limited to 435 hp for take-off, and the 206L-4 is transmission-limited to 495 hp. The derating of the C30P produces an advantage in hot-day and high-altitude operations as it can produce the rated horsepower at higher altitudes and temperatures where applications that use the maximum rating of the engine at sea level suffer accelerated performance deterioration with increases in temperature and altitude. The 206L-3 and L-4 have not been offered in a twin configuration under those model designations.^{[citation needed]}

In 2007, Bell announced an upgrade program for the 206L-1 and 206L-3 which is designed to modify the aircraft to the 206L-4 configuration; modified aircraft are designated 206L-1+ and 206L-3+. Modifications include strengthened airframe structural components (including a new tailboom), improved transmission, upgraded engine for the L-1, all of which result in a maximum gross weight increase of 300 pounds and increased performance.^[15]

Production of the 206L-4 ended in June 2017 with over 3800 LongRanger's produced.^[3]

Gemini ST and TwinRanger[edit]

TheTwinRangername dates from the mid-1980s when Bell developed theBell 400 TwinRanger,but it never entered production.^[16]

In 1989, Tridair Helicopters began developing a twin-engine conversion of the LongRanger, theGemini ST.The prototype's first flight was on January 16, 1991, while full FAA certification was awarded in November. Certification covers the conversion of LongRanger 206L-1s, L-3s and L-4s to Gemini ST configuration.^[16]In mid-1994 the Gemini ST was certificated as the first Single/Twin aircraft, allowing it to operate either as a single or twin engine aircraft throughout all phases of flight.^[16]

TheBell 206LT TwinRangerwas a new-build production model equivalent to Tridair's Gemini ST, and was based on the 206L-4. Thirteen 206LTs were built, the first being delivered in January 1994, and the last in 1997. The TwinRanger was replaced in Bell's lineup by the mostly-newBell 427.^[16]

Operational history[edit]

The first Bell 206A flew on January 10, 1966, and the aircraft was revealed later that month at theHelicopter Association of America(HAA) convention. On October 20, 1966, the JetRanger received FAA certification. Delivery of the JetRanger to customers began on January 13, 1967, with the first aircraft being purchased by Harry Holly, CEO of the Hollymatic Corporation and previous owner of a Bell Ranger.^[10]In 1968, theUnited States Navyselected the 206A as its primary trainer, the TH-57 Sea Ranger. The Army also eventually selected the 206A for a light observation helicopter as theOH-58 Kiowa.

The basic shape and design of the JetRanger remained unchanged since 1967, but Bell introduced the 206B JetRanger II in 1971. In 1977, the 206B-3 JetRanger III was introduced with its modified tail rotor and more powerful engine. The JetRanger is popular with news media for traffic and news reporting. The LongRanger is commonly used as an air ambulance and as a corporate transport. On September 1, 1982, pilotsH. Ross Perot, Jr.and Jay Coburn departedDallas, Texasin the "Spirit of Texas",a Bell 206L-2 (N3911Z). They returned on 30 September, 29 days and 3 hours later, completing the first around-the-world helicopter flight.^[17]

In 1983, Australian businessmanDick Smithbecame the first helicopter pilot to complete a solo trip around the world in 260 flight hours. During the trip, he landed his 206B-3 (S/N 3653; VH-DIK) on prepositioned container ships to refuel between Japan and the Aleutian Islands.

In 1993, the U.S. Army chose the Bell 206B-3 as the winner of the New Training Helicopter competition, to serve as its primary training helicopter, the TH-67 Creek. The number of TH-67sbeing divested by the Armyis too small to impact civilian markets.^[18]

On July 22, 1994,Ron Bowerlanded his 206B-3 (N206AJ) atHurst, Texas,setting a new record for around-the-world flight by a helicopter. Bower had departed on June 24 and returned 24 days, 4 hours, 36 minutes and 24 seconds later, averaging 35.62 knots (40.99 mph, 65.97 km/h).^[19]Bower had added a 91-US-gallon (340 L) auxiliary fuel tank, which doubled the JetRanger III's range.^[20]

Notable accidents and incidents[edit]

On August 1, 1977, famousU-2spy plane pilotFrancis Gary Powerswas piloting a helicopter for KNBC Channel 4 over West Los Angeles, California, when the aircraft crashed, killing him and cameraman George Spears. They had been video recording brush fires in Santa Barbara County in the station's helicopter and were leaving the area.^[21]

On August 27, 1990, musicianStevie Ray Vaughan,pilot Jeff Brown, and three members ofEric Clapton's crew, Bobby Brooks, Nigel Browne, and Colin Smythe, were killed in a 206B crash.^[22]

On October 25, 1991, a Bell 206 carrying rock musicconcert promoter Bill Graham,his girlfriend Melissa Gold, and pilot Steve Kahn crashed into atransmission towerwest ofVallejo, California,killing everyone on board.^[23]^[24]The cause of the accident was determined to be the pilot's intentional flight into known adverse weather conditions.^[25]^{[importance?]}

On March 9, 2009, Bangladesh Army's General Officer, Commander ofJessoreArea and his pilot were killed when his Bell 206 crashed atTangailArea ofBangladesh.^[26]^{[importance?]}

On August 20, 2014, Guatemala's Army Chief of Staff was killed when his Bell 206 crashed.^[27]^{[importance?]}

On February 11, 2019, Brazilian journalistRicardo Boechatand the pilot were killed when Bell 206B, PT-HPG,crashedinto a truck while attempting an emergency landing on a highway.^[28]

v t e Bell AircraftandBell Helicopter/Bell Textronaircraft
Manufacturer designations	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31¹ 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 (I) 39 (II) 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 J 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70–100¹ 101 102 103 104 105 106 107¹ 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131–199¹ 200 201 202¹ 203¹ 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213¹ 214 214ST 215¹ 216 217¹ 218¹ 219¹ 220¹ 221¹ 222 223–229¹ 230 231–248¹ 249 250–300¹ 301 302–308¹ 309 310–359¹ 360 361–399¹ 400 401–405¹ 406 407 408¹ 409 410¹ 411¹ 412 413¹ 414¹ 415¹ 416¹ 417 418–426¹ 427 428¹ 429 430 431–439¹ 440 441¹ 442¹ 443¹ 444¹ 445 446¹ 447¹ 448¹ 449 550–504¹ 505 506–524¹ 525 526–532¹ 533 534–539¹ 540 541–547¹ 548 549–575¹ 576 577–582¹ 583 846–598¹ 599 600–608¹ 609 610–645¹ 646 647–679¹ 680 681–917¹ 918 D-188 D-255 D-292
Fighter aircraft	YFM-1 P-39 XFL P-59 P-63 P-76 XP-77 XP-83
Target drones	PQM-56
Attack helicopters	207 Bell AH-1 Singles Twins AH-1Z 309 YAH-63 360
Observation and utility helicopters	H-13 H-13J UH-1 UH-1N UH-1Y TH-57 OH-58 TH-67 ARH-70
Commercial helicopters	47 47J 204 205 206 210 212 214 214ST 222 230 407 412 427 429 430 505 525
Tiltrotors	V-22 V-247 V-280 AW609 TR918 QTR
UAVs	MQ-8C
Non-production helicopters	400 417 440
Experimental aircraft	ATV 201 533 D-188 D-255 D-292 FCX-001 L-39 LLRV/LLTV X-1 X-2 X-5 X-14 X-16 X-22 XF-109 XP-52 XV-3 XV-15
Names	Airabonita Airacobra Airacomet Airacuda Arapaho BigLifter Cobra Creek Eagle Eye Fire Scout GlobalRanger Huey HueyCobra Invictus Iroquois JetRanger Jet Ranger X Kingcobra KingCobra Kiowa LongRanger Osprey Quad TiltRotor Ranger Sea Cobra Sea Ranger Sioux Sioux Scout SuperCobra Super Huey Super Transporter Twin Huey TwinRanger Valor Venom Vigilant Viper Zulu Cobra
¹Unknown/not assigned

Development[edit]

Origins and JetRanger[edit]

LongRanger[edit]

Gemini ST and TwinRanger[edit]

Operational history[edit]

Notable accidents and incidents[edit]

Variants[edit]

Civilian[edit]

Military[edit]

Operators[edit]

Military and government[edit]

Former operators[edit]

Specifications (206B-L4 Long Ranger)[edit]

Notable appearances in media[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]