Our Fleet - BELL 206 JETRANGER

Countries of origin: USA and Canada

Type: Light utility helicopter

Powerplant: 2068 JetRanger 11 - One 300kW (400 shp) Aflison 250-C20 turboshaft driving a two blade main rotor and two-blade tail rotor. 206B-3 JetRanger Ill - One 315kW (420shp) Rolls-Royce (Allison) 250-C201

Performance: 2068 - Max cruising speed 219 km/h (118kt). Initial rate of climb 1,540 ft/min. Range 702km (379nm). 20613-3 - Max speed 225km/h (1 22kt), max cruising speed 21 4km/h (11 5kt). Initial rate of climb 128Oft/min. Range with max fuel and no reserves 732km (385nm).

Weights: 206B - Empty 660kg (14551b), max takeoff 1,360kg (30001b). 206B-3 - Empty 737kg (1 6351b), max takeoff with external load 1,521 kg (33501b), with internal load 1,451 kg (1 5001b).

Dimensions: Main rotor diameter 10.16m (33ft 4in), fuselage length 9.50m (31ft 2in), height 2.91 m (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 (14001b), max external sling load 680kg (1 5001b).

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

History: The JetRanger series has become the definitive turbine powered light utility and corporate helicopter of the past three decades. The JetRanger can trace its lineage back to an unsuccessful contender for a US Army competition for a light observation helicopter, which was won by the Hughes 500. This first Model 206 made its first flight on December 8 1962, while the following civil 206A, powered by a 235kW (317shp) Allison 250-C18A, followed, flying on January 10 1966. Deliveries of the first production JetRangers began late in that same year.

In the early 1970s production switched to the Model 206B JetRanger 11 with a 300kW (400shp) 250-C20 turboshaft, while conversion kits to upgrade earlier As to the new standard were made available. The third major variant of the JetRanger is the 315kW (420shp) 250-C20B powered JetRanger 111, with first deliveries commencing in late 1977. Once again Bell offered a conversion kit to update earlier JetRangers to the new standard. Other features introduced on the JetRanger Ill were a larger and improved tail rotor and minor modifications.

JetRanger production was transferred from Texas to Mirabel in Canada in 1986, where the current production model remains the 206B-3 JetRanger Ill.

The JetRanger was also accepted by the US Army as an observation helicopter as the OH-58 Kiowa, and variants of the Kiowa remain in production in the USA. Military 20613s were also built in Australia for the Australian Army, where plans were also held to build civilian 20613s for the Australian market under licence by CAC, but these fell through.