Bell 206

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Bell 206
Bell 206 JetRanger
Type Multipurpose utility helicopter
Manufacturer Bell Helicopter Textron
Introduced 1967
Status Active service
Primary users United States Navy
United States Army
United States Marine Corps
Variants OH-58 Kiowa
Bell 407

The Bell Helicopter Model 206 JetRanger is a two-bladed main rotor, turbine powered helicopter with a conventional, two-bladed tail rotor. The aircraft uses hydraulic flight controls.

Contents

[edit] History

The Model 206 originated in the early 1960s as an entry in a United States Army competition for a light observation (scout) helicopter. Although Bell lost the contract, the Model 206A JetRanger entered the civilian market in 1967. The Model 206 has been updated three times, with the 206B "JetRanger II" arriving in 1971 and the 206B-3 "JetRanger III" with modified tail rotor and more powerful engine coming in 1977. The basic shape and design remain unchanged since 1967.

The JetRanger is popular with news media for traffic and news reporting. The Army eventually selected the 206 for use as the OH-58 Kiowa, fulfilling its originally intended role. It was ready for service in 1969 and deployed in the Vietnam War. The United States Navy and Marines use 206 variants known as the TH-57 Sea Ranger. The TH-67 Creek variant is used by the Army as a trainer for helicopter students.

A Bell 206L-3
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A Bell 206L-3

The 206A, and B are five-seat designs, while the 206L "LongRanger" is a stretched seven-seat version. The LongRanger has been developed to the 202L-2 and 206L-4 designations. In 1981 a military version was released, the 206L-3 "TexasRanger". Both five- and seven-seaters have two seats in the front and a three seat bench in the back; the LongRanger adds two rear-facing seats in between the front and rear seats. The LongRanger is commonly used as an air ambulance (the standard JetRanger version is too short for this function).

The Model 206 is flown by a single pilot, who sits in the front right seat.

Derived from the Model 206, the Bell 407 and OH-58D use a newer, 4-bladed articulated rotor system which offers improved performance while reducing vibration and noise. The Bell 417 followed the 407.

In flight plans the ICAO designator for the JetRanger and the LongRanger is B06.

[edit] Variants

[edit] Civilian

  • Bell 206 - Five (5) YOH-4A prototypes, for flight evaluation in the Army's LOH program (1963).
  • Bell 206A - FAA-certified in 1966. Selected as the OH-58A Kiowa in 1968.
  • Bell 206A-1 - OH-58A aircraft that are reverse-modified for FAA civil certification.[1]
  • Bell 206B - Upgraded Allison 250-C20 engine.[2]
  • Bell 206B-2 - Bell 206B models upgraded with Bell 206B-3 improvements.[2]
  • Bell 206B-3 - Upgraded Allison 250-C20J engine and added 2 inches to tail rotor diameter for yaw control.[2]
  • Bell 206L - Stretched, 7-seat configuration.
  • Bell 206L-2
  • Bell 206L-3 TexasRanger - proposed military version
  • Bell 206L-4
  • 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-bladed rotor system
  • Bell 417 - upgraded 407 with bigger engine
  • Agusta-Bell 206A -
  • Agusta-Bell 206A-1 -
  • Agusta-Bell 206B -
  • Agusta-Bell 206B-3 -
  • Agusta-Bell 206B-1 -
  • Agusta-Bell 206L LongRanger -

[edit] Military

  • OH-58 Kiowa - US Army scout and liaison version
  • TH-57 Sea Ranger - US Navy/Marine Corps trainer
  • TH-67 Creek - US Army trainer

[edit] Military operators

Bell 206B Jet Ranger III at Filton Airfield, Bristol, England. Used for electricity pylon patrols.
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Bell 206B Jet Ranger III at Filton Airfield, Bristol, England. Used for electricity pylon patrols.

[edit] Specifications (206B-3)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 5
  • Length: 39 ft 1 in (11.9 m)
  • Rotor diameter: 33 ft 4 in (10.16 m)
  • Height: 2.83 m (9 ft 4in)
  • Disc area: 872 ft² (81.1 m²)
  • Empty weight: 1,632 lb (742 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 3,200 lb (1,500 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 3,350 lb (1,520 kg)
  • Powerplant:Allison 250-C20J turboshaft, 420 shp (310 kW)

Performance

[edit] Popular Culture

The JetRanger have been seen in cinema productions including James Bond films — notably in the opening sequence of For Your Eyes Only—and television series, especially law enforcement dramas such as 24, but also memorably in the Treasure Hunt game show.

Bell 206A Jet Ranger, built 1967
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Bell 206A Jet Ranger, built 1967

The JetRanger is the inspiration behind the design of helicopters in controversial video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. A JetRanger was used in the film Terminator 2: Judgment Day, when the T-1000 commandeers it and uses it to pursue the protagonists fleeing in a hijacked SWAT van and again in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines when the T-X uses one to follow John Connor and Katherine Brewster to Crystal Peak.

It has also been seen in the films Deep Impact, The Siege, The Matrix, Lethal Weapon, Die Hard with a Vengeance, xXx, U.S. Marshals, True Lies, Hollywood Homicide, and also made an appearance in the TV series ER when one of the characters had his arm amputated by the tail rotor due to being distracted arguing with another character.

[edit] References

  1. ^ TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEET NO. H2SW, Revision 42. Federal Aviation Administration(www.faa.gov) (27 June 2006).
  2. ^ a b c Ron and Shannon Bower (1 May 2003). Bell 206:Still Ringing True. Aviation Today (www.aviationtoday.com).

[edit] External links

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