Bell 206
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bell 206 | |
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| Bell 206 JetRanger | |
| Type | Multipurpose utility helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Bell Helicopter Textron |
| Status | Active service |
| Primary users | United States Army United States Navy |
| 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 boosted flight controls.
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[edit] Development
In October 1961, the Army submitted a request for proposals (RFP) for the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH). Bell, along with 12 other manufacturers (including Fairchild-Hiller and Hughes Tool Co. Aircraft Division), entered the competition.[1] Bell submitted their design for Model 206, which was selected out of the design phase of the Navy-run competition by the Army[2] and designated as the YHO-4A.[3][4]
Bell produced five prototype aircraft in 1962 to submit to the army for the test and evaluation phase. During the testing phase, the test pilots complained about the power problems of the aircraft, an issue that apparently knocked it out of the running, because when the winners were announced to progress on to the final selection phase, Bell's YOH-4A wasn't selected.[5] Afterwards, Bell attempted to market the model 206, but it didn't fare well commercially. Bell's market research showed that it was the body design that customers found mostly unpalatable. Bell redesigned the body of the airframe to be more sleek and aesthetic, and reintroduced it as Model 206A JetRanger which was a commercial success.[6]
[edit] Operational history
The JetRanger entered the civilian market in 1967. The Model 206 has since been updated three times, with the 206B "JetRanger II" arriving in 1971 and the 206B-3 "JetRanger III" with its modified tail rotor and more powerful engine in 1977. The basic shape and design remain unchanged since 1967.
The JetRanger is popular with news media for traffic and news reporting. The U.S. Army eventually selected the 206 for use as the OH-58 Kiowa, fulfilling its originally intended role. 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 U.S. Army as a trainer for helicopter students.
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 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4 designations. In 1981 a military version was released, the 206L "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).
Derived from the Model 206, the Bell 407 and OH-58D use a newer, 4-bladed, soft, in-plane rigid rotor system which offers improved performance while reducing vibration and noise. The Bell 417 is a follow-on to the 407.
The Model 206 is flown by a single pilot, who sits in the front right seat. 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.[7]
- Bell 206B - Upgraded Allison 250-C20 engine.[8]
- Bell 206B-2 - Bell 206B models upgraded with Bell 206B-3 improvements.[8]
- Bell 206B-3 - Upgraded Allison 250-C20J engine and added 2 inches to tail rotor diameter for yaw control.[8]
- Bell 206L - Stretched, seven seat configuration. 250-C20B engine.
- Bell 206L-1 - 250-C28 engine
- Bell 206L-3 - 250-C30P engine
- Bell 206L-4 250-C30P engine and transmition upgrade.
- 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
- Bell 206L TexasRanger - proposed export military version, only a demonstrator was built in 1981
[edit] Operators
Albania
Australia
Austria
Bangladesh
Brazil
Bulgaria
Brunei Darussalam: Royal Brunei Air Force
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
Republic of China
Colombia
Côte d'Ivoire
Croatia
Cyprus
Ecuador
Ethiopia
Finland
Greece
Guatemala
Guyana
Indonesia
Iran
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Kuwait
Libya
Malta
Mexico
Morocco
Myanmar
Oman
Pakistan
Peru
Philippines
Saudi Arabia
Slovenia: Slovenian Armed Forces
Republic of Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Tanzania
Thailand
Turkey
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
United States: U.S. Army, U.S. Navy
Venezuela
Yemen
[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: 1× Allison 250-C20J turboshaft, 420 shp (310 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 139 mph (121 knots, 224 km/h)
- Range: 437 mi (380 nm, 703 km)
- Service ceiling: 13,500 ft (4,120 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,280 ft/min (6.5 m/s)
- Disc loading: 4 lb/ft² (177 N/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.26 hp/lb (420 W/kg)
[edit] References
- ^ Steve Remington. The Cessna CH-1 Helicopter. CollectAir (commercemarketplace.com).
- ^ George A. Spangenberg. "George A. Spangenberg Oral History".
- ^ Robert Beechy (18 November 2005). U.S Army Aircraft Acquisition Programs. Uncommon Aircraft 2006.
- ^ Rotary Aircraft Designation Crosswalk. GlobalSecurity.org.
- ^ Johan Visschedijk. Bell 206 JetRanger.
- ^ American Helicopter Museum: Bell 206 JetRanger.
- ^ TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEET NO. H2SW, Revision 42. Federal Aviation Administration(www.faa.gov) (27 June 2006).
- ^ a b c Ron and Shannon Bower (1 May 2003). Bell 206:Still Ringing True. Aviation Today (www.aviationtoday.com).
[edit] External links
- Bell Model 206B-3 (official page)
- Bell Model 206L-4 (official page)
- Bell Model 206 at globalsecurity.org
- Bell Model 206 at aircraft.co.za
- Military version at globalsecurity.com
[edit] Related content
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Designation sequence
- U.S. Military:
Related lists
Fighter aircraft: YFM-1 · P-39 · P-59 · P-63 · XP-77 · XP-83
Commercial Helicopters: 47 · 204 · 205 · 206 · 210 · 212 · 214 · 222 · 230 · 407 · 412 · 417 · 427 · 429 · 430
Military Helicopters: H-13 · UH-1 · UH-1N · UH-1Y · 207 · 209 · AH-1 · 309 · YAH-63 · OH-58 · ARH-70
Tiltrotors: V-22 · BA609 · TR918 · QTR
Experimental aircraft: X-1 · X-2 · X-5 · X-20 X-22 · XV-3 · XV-15 · 533
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