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Subject: Bell 206 JetRanger/LongRanger/TwinRanger
Date: 7 Feb 2018 05:21:10 -0800
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_206
The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- or 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.
On October 14, 1960, the United States Navy solicited response 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. Bell submitted the D-250 design, which would be designated as the
YHO-4. On May 19, 1961, Bell and Hiller were announced as winners of the design
competition.
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. The YOH-4A also
became known as the Ugly Duckling in comparison to the other contending
aircraft. Following a flyoff of the Bell, Hughes and Fairchild-Hiller
prototypes, the Hughes OH-6 was selected in May 1965.
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 quarters 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. A Bell
executive contributed to this redesign by drawing on a sketch two lines
extending the fuselage to where it meets the tail. 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.
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 was released, the 206L
TexasRanger.
Role
Multipurpose utility 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
Number built
7,300
Unit cost
approx. US$900,000 to $1.2 million
Developed from
Bell YOH-4
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-2 (N3911Z). They returned on 30
September, 29 days and 3 hours later, completing the first around-the-world
helicopter flight, making them Earthrounders. 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.
Specifications (206B-L4)
General characteristics
Crew: one pilot
Capacity: four passengers
Length: 39 ft 8 in (12.11 m)
Rotor diameter: 33 ft 4 in (10.16 m)
Height: 9 ft 4 in (2.83 m)
Empty weight: 2,331 lb (1,057 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 3,200 lb (1,451 kg)
drivetrain limitations (310 kW)
Performance
Never exceed speed: 130 knots (241 km/h, 150 mph)
Maximum speed: 120 knots (222 km/h, 138 mph)
Range: 374 nmi (430 mi, 693 km)
Service ceiling: 13,500 ft (4,115 m)
Rate of climb: 1,350 ft/min (6.9 m/s)
Power/mass: 0.26 hp/lb (430 W/kg)
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