The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- and twin-engined helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec, plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, it was not selected by the Army. Bell redesigned the airframe and successfully marketed the aircraft commercially as the five-place Bell 206A JetRanger. The new design was eventually selected by the Army as the OH-58 Kiowa.
Bell also developed a seven-place LongRanger, which was later offered with a twin-engined option as the TwinRanger, while Tridair Helicopters offers a similar conversion of the LongRanger called the Gemini ST. The ICAO-assigned model designation "B06" is used on flight plans for the JetRanger and LongRanger, and the designation "B06T" is used for the twin-engined TwinRangers.
Development
Origins
On October 14, 1960, the United States Navy solicited 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, including Hiller Aircraft and Hughes Tool Co., Aircraft Division.Remington, Steve. "The Cessna CH-1 Helicopter". CollectAir.com Bell submitted the D-250 design, which would be designated as the YHO-4.Beechy, Robert. "U.S Army Aircraft Acquisition Programs". Uncommon Aircraft 2006, November 18, 2005. Accessed on September 19, 2006 On May 19, 1961, Bell and Hiller were announced as winners of the design competition.See Light Observation Helicopter. The Navy, which was assisting the Army in the selection phase, recommended the Hiller Model 1100, while the Army team preferred the Bell D-250, and then the 1100. The Selection Board selected both aircraft. Afterwards, the acting Army Chief of Staff directed the Selection Board to include the Hughes 369 in the fly-off competition.
Bell developed the D-250 design into the Bell 206, 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.Visschedijk, lJohan. 1000AircraftPhotos.com. 16 October 2003. Accessed on 19 September 2006 The YOH-4A also came to be known as "The Ugly Duckling" in comparison to the other contenders. Following a fly-off of the Bell, Hughes and Fairchild-Hiller prototypes, the Hughes OH-6 was selected in May 1965.Spenser, Jay P. "Bell Helicopter". Whirlybirds, A History of the US Helicopter Pioneers, p. 263. University of Washington Press, 1998.
JetRanger When the YOH-4A was eliminated by the Army, Bell went about marketing the aircraft. In addition to the image problem, the helicopter lacked cargo space and only provided cramped seating for three passengers. The solution was a redesigned fuselage, sleeker and aesthetically appealing, adding of cargo space in the process.Aastad, Andy. "The Introduction to the JetRanger" . Rotor Magazine. Helicopter Association International. Winter 2006–2007. Accessed on 29 April 2008 A Bell executive contributed to the redesign by drawing two lines on a sketch extending the fuselage to where it meets the tail.George Larson "Farewell to an Icon: the Bell JetRanger 206". Aviation Week blog, January 25, 2008 The redesign was designated Bell 206A, and Bell President Edwin J. Ducayet named it the JetRanger, denoting an evolution from the popular Model 47J Ranger.
Bell Helicopter ended production of the Bell 206B-3 version in 2010.. Bell Helicopter, January 24, 2008 In 2011, used 206B-3s sold for around $1.4 million depending upon equipment and configuration. Bell introduced the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X to replace the 206 five-seat versions from around 2015 and compete with the Robinson R66.Maher, Guy. "Bell gives 505 JetRanger update". Vertical, 21 July 2014. Accessed: 21 July 2014. .
LongRanger
The 206L LongRanger is a stretched variant with seating for seven. The fuselage, stretched a total of , adds two rear-facing seats between the front and rear seats. Since 1975, Bell has produced more than 1,700 LongRangers across all variants. In 1981, a military version, the 206L TexasRanger was released. The original 206L used an Allison 250-C20R 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.
In 2007, Bell announced an upgrade program for the 206L-1 and 206L-3 designed to modify the aircraft to the 206L-4 configuration; modified aircraft are designated 206L-1+ and 206L-3+. Modifications include strengthened 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.Kocurek, Mark. "206L Upgrade Program". Rotorbreeze Magazine Bell Helicopter, July 2007
Production of the 206L-4 ended in June 2017 with over 3,800 LongRangers built.Last Bell LongRanger Rolls Off Production Line. AIN online, July 10, 2017.
Gemini ST and TwinRanger The TwinRanger name dates from the mid-1980s when Bell developed the Bell 400 TwinRanger, but it never entered production.Frawley, Gerard: The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003–2004, p. 43. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003.
In 1989, Tridair Helicopters began developing a twin-engine conversion of the LongRanger, the Gemini 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. 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.
The Bell 206LT TwinRanger was a new-build production model equivalent to Tridair's Gemini ST, and was based on the 206L-4. Thirteen 206LTs were built, the first delivered in January 1994, and the last in 1997. The TwinRanger was replaced in Bell's lineup by the mostly-new Bell 427.
Operational history
The first Bell 206A flew on January 10, 1966, and the aircraft was revealed later that month at the Helicopter 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. In 1968, the United States Navy selected the 206A as its primary trainer, the TH-57 Sea Ranger. The Army also eventually selected the 206A for a light observation helicopter as the OH-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, pilots H. Ross Perot, Jr. and Jay Coburn departed Dallas, Texas in the "Spirit of Texas", a Bell 206L-1 (N3911Z). They returned on 30 September, 29 days and 3 hours later, completing the first around-the-world helicopter flight.
The Bell 206B was first introduced to the Canadian market shortly after its certification in 1967. Its early adoption was driven by the booming resource industries of the time, particularly in oil and gas exploration, mining, and forestry. Its light weight, combined with the ability to land in rugged, remote locations, made it an ideal tool for transporting geologists, surveyors, and equipment to otherwise inaccessible areas of Canada's vast wilderness.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the JetRanger became a critical part of exploration in northern Canada, including the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Arctic regions, where harsh weather conditions and rough terrain demanded a helicopter that could perform in all environments. The Bell 206B's durability and low operating cost also made it a favorite for these long, sometimes dangerous missions.
In 1983, Australian businessman Dick Smith became 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-67s being divested by the Army is too small to impact civilian markets.
On July 22, 1994, Ron Bower landed his 206B-3 (N206AJ) at Hurst, 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 .https://web.archive.org/web/20011018054626/http://records.fai.org/rotorcraft/aircraft.asp?id=606 "List of records established by the '206B-3 Jet Ranger III'". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Accessed on October 19, 2008 Bower had added a auxiliary fuel tank, which doubled the JetRanger III's range.Kocks, Kathleen. . Rotor & Wing. October 1994. Accessed October 19, 2008
Variants
Civilian
Bell 206 Five YOH-4A prototypes, for flight evaluation in the Army's LOH program (1963). Bell 206A Initial production version, powered by an Allison 250-C18 turboshaft engine. FAA-certified in 1966. Selected as the OH-58A Kiowa in 1968. Agusta-Bell 206A License-built in Italy. Bell 206A-1 OH-58A aircraft that are modified for FAA civil certification. Agusta-Bell 206A-1 License-built in Italy. Upgraded Allison 250-C20 engine. Agusta-Bell 206B License-built in Italy. Bell 206B-2 Bell 206B models upgraded with Bell 206B-3 improvements.
Bell 206B-3 Upgraded Allison 250-C20J engine and added to tail rotor diameter for yaw control. Stretched, seven-seat configuration, powered by an Allison 250-C20B turboshaft engine. Higher-powered version, powered by an Allison 250-C28 turboshaft engine. Bell 206L-1+ LongRanger Bell modifications, including 250-C30P engine, to upgrade aircraft to 206L-4 configuration. Powered by an Allison 250-C30P turboshaft engine. Bell 206L-3+ LongRanger Bell modifications to upgrade aircraft to 206L-4 configuration. Improved version, 250-C30P engine and transmission upgrade. Bell 206LT TwinRanger Twin-engined conversions and new-builds of the 206L; replaced by the Bell 427.
Bell 407 based on the 206L with four-blade rotor system. Bell 417 upgraded 407 with larger engine; project canceled. Chilean modified LongRanger III with narrow forward fuselage and flat-plate cockpit windows. At least two converted, with first flight in 1989.Lambert 1991, p. 30. HESA Shahed 278 An Iranian re-hash of Bell 206 components. Aurora Flight Sciences Tactical Autonomous Aerial Logistics System test platform
Military Bell 206AS Export version for the Chilean Navy.
Canadian military designation for the Bell 206B-3. Hkp 6A Swedish Army designation for the Agusta-Bell 206A. 21 units manufactured in Italy, used as training, liaison, light transport, scout and anti-tank helicopters armed with ATGMs.