Bell 206 JetRanger

The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- or twin-engine 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, the 206 failed to be selected. 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-engine 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-engine TwinRangers.


Powerplants
206B JetRanger II - One 300kW (400shp) Allison 250C20 turboshaft driving a two blade main rotor and two blade tail rotor. 206B3 JetRanger III - One 315kW (420shp) Allison 250C20J.

Performance
206B - Max cruising speed 219km/h (118kt). Initial rate of climb 1540ft/min. Range 702km (379nm). 206B3 - Max speed 225km/h (122kt), max cruising speed 214km/h (115kt). Initial rate of climb 1280ft/min. Range with max fuel and no reserves 732km (385nm).

Weights
206B - Empty 660kg (1455lb), max takeoff 1360kg (3000lb). 206B3 - Empty 737kg (1635lb), max takeoff with external load 1521kg (3350lb), with internal load 1451kg (1500lb).

Dimensions
Main rotor diameter 10.16m (33ft 4in), fuselage length 9.50m (31ft 2in), height 2.91m (9ft 7in). Main rotor disc area 81.1m2 (872.7sq ft).

Capacity
Total accommodation for five, including one pilot and one passenger in the front, and three behind them on the rear bench seat. Max internal payload (Model 206B) 635kg (1400lb), max external sling load 680kg (1500lb).

Production
Over 7700 military and civil versions of the JetRanger have been built by Bell in the USA and Canada, AgustaBell in Italy and other licensees. More than 4400 built for civilian customers.