Bell 206 JetRanger

Summary

Category	Helicopter
Origin country	🇺🇸 United States
First flight	10 January 1966
Year of introduction	1967
Number produced	7300 units

Description

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, it was not selected and Bell redesigned the aircraft and successfully marketed it as the Bell 206 JetRanger. The new design was eventually introduced in 1967. The 206 was a commercial success and spawned several variants, including the Bell 206L LongRanger. Over the years, the Bell 206 has been used for various roles, including utility, law enforcement, and news gathering. It has also been popular in the civil market and has been sold to military customers around the world.

The Bell 206 features a two-bladed main rotor and a two-bladed tail rotor, a configuration that contributes to its relatively simple and cost-effective maintenance. The main rotor system is of a semi-rigid design, making the helicopter agile and responsive to control inputs. It typically comes with a single turboshaft engine, although there are twin-engine variants. The aircraft has a conventional, skid-based landing gear, making it well-suited for off-airport operations.

The cabin is configured to seat up to five people, including the pilot, in its most common versions. Visibility from the cockpit is generally good, thanks to large windows, and the controls are laid out in a manner that is both functional and ergonomic. The Bell 206L LongRanger variant extends the cabin length, providing more space and seating for up to seven people.

One distinguishing characteristic of the Bell 206 is its high level of versatility. The aircraft's design allows for various role-specific modifications, such as the addition of external cargo hooks, firefighting equipment, or law enforcement packages, including infrared cameras and searchlights.

Operational history

The Bell 206 didn't initially win the U.S. Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, but it did find its way into military service in various capacities and under different designations. The primary military variant is the Bell 206A, known as the OH-58 Kiowa. The Kiowa served as an observation and reconnaissance aircraft and was introduced to the U.S. Army in 1969. Over time, the OH-58 underwent several upgrades, most notably the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, which featured advanced optics, a mast-mounted sight, and armament capabilities including air-to-ground missiles and a .50 caliber machine gun.

In addition to its service with the U.S. Army, the Bell 206 has been used by military forces worldwide for various roles including training, utility transport, and light attack missions. For instance, the TH-57 Sea Ranger, a variant of the Bell 206, serves as the U.S. Navy's primary helicopter trainer.

Internationally, the Bell 206 and its variants have seen service in countries like Canada, Australia, and several nations in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. It has been employed in various conflicts and peacekeeping missions, sometimes fitted with armaments and sometimes serving in a purely observational or liaison role.

The OH-58 Kiowa was officially retired from the U.S. Army in 2017, largely replaced by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for reconnaissance and by the AH-64 Apache for light attack roles. However, the Bell 206 family continues to see military use in training roles and with foreign military services.

Variants

Bell 206A JetRanger: The original commercial model, equipped with a single Allison 250-C18 turboshaft engine. Primarily used for utility roles and training.
Bell 206B JetRanger II & III: Upgraded versions of the 206A, featuring more powerful engines and improved avionics. The JetRanger III, for instance, uses the 250-C20J engine and has a more advanced rotor system.
Bell 206L LongRanger: An extended-fuselage version of the 206B, offering more cabin space and seating for up to seven passengers. The LongRanger has its own series of upgrades, including the 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4, each with increasingly powerful engines and enhanced features.
OH-58 Kiowa: The military version developed primarily for observation and reconnaissance. It went through several iterations including the OH-58A, OH-58C, and the armed OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, which includes advanced optics and weapon systems.
TH-57 Sea Ranger: A derivative of the 206B, used by the U.S. Navy as a training helicopter. It comes in different models like the TH-57A for basic training and the TH-57C for advanced training, featuring instruments for visual and instrument flight rules (VFR/IFR).
TwinRanger: As the name suggests, this variant features a twin-engine setup for improved performance and redundancy. It combines features of the 206L LongRanger and the Bell 212's twin-engine configuration.

Technical specifications

Version: OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
Crew	2 members
Maximum speed	240 km/h (149 mph)
Height	3.9 m (12.9 ft)
Length	12.9 m (42.2 ft)
Service ceiling	4572 m (15000 ft)
Empty weight	1737 kg (3829 lbs)
Max. takeoff weight	2495 kg (5501 lbs)
Powerplant	1 × turbomoteur Allison 250-C30 delivering 485 kW

Current operating countries

Country		Units
	United States	123
	Iraq	73
	Greece	68
	Taiwan	66
	Colombia	47
	United Arab Emirates	43
	Mexico	42
	Italy	30
	Turkey	25
	Croatia	23
	Israel	22
	Dominican Republic	20
	Thailand	20
	Pakistan	18
	Tunisia	18
	Saudi Arabia	15
	Canada	13
	Austria	10
	Brazil	10
	Argentina	9
	Bangladesh	9
	Ecuador	8
	Bulgaria	6
	Germany	6
	Iran	6
	Morocco	6
	Albania	5
	Chile	5
	Uganda	5
	Guatemala	4
	Myanmar	4
	North Macedonia	4
	Oman	4
	Slovenia	4
	Sri Lanka	4
	Venezuela	4
	Brunei	2
🇨🇩	Congo Democratic Republic	2
	Guyana	2
	Peru	2
	Senegal	2
	Zambia	2
	Cameroon	1
	Jamaica	1
	Nicaragua	1
	Yemen	1