Bell Model 206 (JetRanger / LongRanger)

History of the Bell 206 (JetRanger/LongRanger)

Bell's successful Model 206 stemmed from the company's failed YOH-4 product, which was used in 1960 as part of the U.S. Army's Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. The service was looking for a four-seat lightweight platform, for which Bell developed the D-250.

After review, the Bell and competing Hiller designs were selected for development, and a revised version of the D-250 produced an improved "Type 206" for the company. This continued in Army testing when the YOH-4A arrived in 1962, with five prototypes to follow.

The competing designs of Fairchild-Hiller and Hughes went head-to-head, and the Hughes YOH-6 project was selected as the eventual winner and entered US service as the OH-6 "Cayuse". -The Army entered 1966.

Bell continued to use its YOH-4 as a five-seat passenger helicopter for the civilian market, and all was not lost. In this case, the aircraft completed its maiden flight on January 10, 1966, and after successful testing, mass production and delivery as the Type 206 "JetRanger" took place before the end of the year.

In 1967, the US Army returned with unmet LOH requirements due to delays and costs associated with OH-6 commitments. This resulted in the Type 206A being ordered and entered into Army service as the OH-58A "Kiowa" military platform, with the two helicopters serving side by side for decades. Deliveries began in May 1968, with more than 2,000 units delivered as Kiowa.

Canada ordered the military version of the COH-58 (later to become the CH-139) in 72 prototypes.

The classic 206 model form features a two-seater side-by-side cockpit facing the short nose assembly through a bulbous windshield. Each crew member is fitted with automotive-style hinged doors on the sides of the fuselage, in front of sliding side doors that provide access to the passenger cabin.

The nacelle is located below the turboshaft system, which drives an overhead dual-blade main rotor and a tail dual-blade rotor in the stern. The tail rotor points to port and the dorsal and pelvic fins are vertical. Add a horizontal plane along the center of the tailstock.

The landing gear consisted of a simple carriage connected by two parallel beams under the fuselage.

Over time, the US Army model was upgraded to the more powerful OH-58C standard with more powerful motor connections. Australia begins local assembly of the 206B-1 helicopter.

The extended seven-seat Type 206L "LongRanger" was created from the basic helicopter Type 206, and Agusta-Bell from Italy took over the licensed production of the Type 206 in Europe under the name "AB 206" (AB 206A, AB 206A-1), AB 206B, AB 206L-1, AB 206L-3). "SeaRanger" ended his aerial career as an American helicopter instructor. The Navy/Navy/Coast Guard and the "TexasRanger" were nothing more than export models that were discontinued in 1981.

The PANHA Shabaviz 2061 became a local unlicensed version of the JetRanger Type 206 in Iran for lighting supply, these were registered in 1998 as a stockpile commissioned by the Iranian Air Force.

A total of about 7,300 Bell 206 helicopters were produced, and the manufacture of the product - in one form or another - continues to this day (2016). Variants in the series have already proven themselves, including the "LongRanger II" with an upgraded Allison 250-C28 turboshaft engine and the "LongRanger III" with an Allison 250-C30P turboshaft engine. Military models are still in use by various operators around the world, from Albania and Argentina to Venezuela and Yemen.

In addition to the U.S. Army and Navy units that use the Model 206, the Los Angeles Police Department also uses it.

Former military operators include Australia, Canada, Chile, Jamaica, Malta and Sweden.

Bell Model 206 evolved into Model 407 Helicopter as detailed elsewhere on this site.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes