Our Fleet - BELL 206L LONGRANGER

Countries of origin: USA and Canada

Type: Light utility helicopter

Powerplant: 206L LongRanger 1 - One 315kW (420shp) Allison 250-C2013 turboshaft driving a two blade main rotor and two blade tail rotor. 206L-1 LongRanger 11 - One 375kW (500shp) Allison 250-C28B. 206L-3 LongRanger Ill & 206L-4 LongRanger IV - One 485kW (650shp) Allison (now Rolls-Royce) 250-C3OR

Performance: 206L - Max speed 232km/h (125kt), cruising speed 229km/h (124kt). Hovering ceiling in ground effect 8200ft. Range 628km (339nm). 206L-1 - Same except for range 692km (374m). 206L-3 - Max speed 241km/h (130kt), max cruising speed 203 km/h (110kt). Range with no reserves 666km (360nm) at 5,000ft. 206L-4 Same except for range 661 km (357nm) at 5,000ft.

Weights: 206L - Empty 844kg (1861kg), max takeoff 1,814kg (40001b). 206L-1 - Empty 980kg (21601b), max takeoff 1,882kg (41501b). 206L-3 - Empty 998kg (22001b), max takeoff 1,882kg (41501b), or 1,927kg (42501b) with external sling load. 206L-4 Empty 1031kg (22741b), max takeoff 2,018kg (44501b), or 2,064kg (45501b) with external sling load.

Dimensions: Main rotor diameter 11.28m (37ft 0in), fuselage length 206L & 206L-1 10.1 3m (33ft 3in), 206L-3 10.44m (34ft 3in), 206L-4 9.81 m (32ft 2in); height 3.14m (1 Oft 4in). Main rotor disc area 99.9M2 (107 5.2sq ft).

Capacity: Total seating for seven, including five passengers in main rear cabin, or four in an optional executive layout. Can accommodate two stretchers and two medical attendants for aerial ambulance.

Production: More than 1600 LongRangers have been delivered.

History: Bell developed the LongRanger to offer a light helicopter with greater capacity and utility over the JetRanger Bell announced it was developing a stretched JetRanger in September 1973, the subsequent Model 206L first flew on September 11 1974, and production began in early 1975. The LongRanger seats a further two passengers compared to the JetRanger, and introduced a more powerful engine and Noda-Matic transmission suspension system for less vibration and greater passenger comfort.

Subsequent versions have been the 206L-1 LongRanger 11, introduced in 1978, the 206L-3 LongRanger Ill, and the current 206L-4 LongRanger W, introduced in 1992. Each subsequent version features increasingly more powerful engines and other minor improvements.

LongRanger production, along with the JetRanger, was transferred to Mirabel in Canada in 1986 (although dynamic components continued to be built at Bell's Fort Worth, Texas plant, as is the case for all Canadian built Bells).

The LongRanger has found favour not only as a corporate transport, but also with police and medical services worldwide, its extra cabin size providing a very useful increase in utility.

During the mid 1990s Bell offered a twin engined LongRanger, the TwinRanger, while US company Tridair offers the twin engine Gemini ST conversion of the LongRanger (both are described separately). The LongRanger also forms the basis of the 407.