Bell 206 ( TH-57 / OH-58 / TH-67 / ARH-70 )

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Bell 206/406/407/427/429

TH-57 OH-58 TH-67 ARH-70

The legendary Bell 206B JetRanger III is simply the most successful commercial helicopter ever built. Flying in every type of climate from the artic to the jungles, to the hottest deserts of the worlds. The 206 has accepted, accomplished more missions, has flown more hours and has set (and broken) more industry records than any other aircraft in the world.

The Bell Model 206 was originally designed to meet the needs of the US Army LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) 1962 competition as the

YOH-4 . The 206 was defeated by the Hughes OH-6 but a much- modified derivative, the Bell 206A was commercially successful and later adopted by the US Navy as the TH-57 Sea Ranger for training purposes. In 1968, the 206A was selected as the "LOH 2nd Edition" winner and entered the US Army inventory as the OH-58A Kiowa.

Several variants were introduced to the civilian market including the standard Bell 206B3 five-seat model and the Bell 206L4 LongRanger, a stretched seven-seat version adding two rear-facing seats in between the front and rear seats. The two-engine Bell 206LT TwinRanger made its first flight in 1990. After these success, Bell introduced in 1994 the Bell 407 a new light four-bladed single engine helicopter and the Bell 427, the twin engine variant, in 1995.

The Bell 206 was adopted by numerous countries, including Canada as CH-136 and CH-139.

The US Army had continuously improved the Kiowa through the OH-58C to the AHIP (Advanced Helicopter Improvement Program) OH-58D Kiowa Warrior capable of fire hellfire missiles.

In 1993, the US Army awards Bell the NTH (New Training Helicopter program) , an $85 million contract to build 102 new modified 206B-3, as the TH-67 Creek training helicopter to replace the TH-1 Huey

After the RAH-66 Comanche cancelation, on July 29, 2005 Bell was awarded with an US Army contract to build 368 ARH based on the Bell 407/427 and to be known as the ARH-70 Arapaho but excessive delays and growth in program costs forced its cancellation on October 16, 2008 when the US Department of Defense failed to certify the program to Congress.

The Bell 429 GlobalRanger is a twin helicopter stretched derivative of the Bell 427. First flight of the prototype took place on February 27 2007 with planning certification by mid-2008.

The Bell 206 Ranger was also built by Agusta in Italy as the AB.206 and on July 22, 1994 a Speed flight record around the world was set when American Ron Bower on a Bell 206B JetRanger III flew the course taking 24½ days to attain an average speed of 65.97 km/h

US Army's OH-58A Kiowa

OH-58A cockpit

OH-58D loading on USAF C-5 Galaxy

US Navy's TH-57 Sea Ranger

Bell 206 Jet Ranger

US Army's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior (Bell 406 AHIP)

Bell TH-67 Creek US Army trainer

Bell 407

Bell 427

Bell ARH ARH-70
Bell ARH-70

Functions: Utilily / Observation / Trainer / VIP

First Flights :

Bell 206 LOH YOH-4 : 1963
Bell 206A JetRanger : Jan 10, 1966
TH-57 / OH-58A: 1968
OH-58C : 1975
Bell 406 AHIP OH-58D : 1981
Bell TH-67 Creek : 1992
Bell 407 : 1994
Bell 427 : 1995
Bell ARH ARH-70 : 2005

Crew / Load: 2 / 4

OH-58C :
Engines: 1 * 420 hp Allison T-63-A-720
Top Speed: 220 km/h
Range: Max.: 490 km
Ceiling: 5.760 m
Weight: Empty: 719 kg -- Max: 1451
Rotor Span: 10.77 m
Length: 12.49 m
Height: 2.91 m
Disc Area: 91.09 m2

Database: