|
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 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
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
US Navy's TH-57 Sea Ranger
Bell 206 Jet Ranger
US Army's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior (Bell 406 AHIP)
OH-58D loading on USAF C-5 Galaxy
Bell TH-67 Creek US Army trainer
Bell 407
Bell 427
Bell ARH 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
Contribution: Aviation Animation Site
|
|
Related News:
Mexico buys 24 helicopters for Anti-Drug war Oct 21, 1999
RAF and US Army Training Fleet Add 17 More TH-67 Jul 22, 2002
Bell 407 Used to Re-Supply Navy Ships at Sea Sep 13, 2002
Useful Load on Bell 206B3 Jet Ranger Increased Jan 16, 2004
Bell Helicopter Sells 600th 407 Helicopter Mar 14, 2004
Bell Submits Bid for Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter Jun 24, 2005
Bell awarded Army contract to build 368 ARH Jul 29, 2005
Bell 429 Order Book Reaches 136 Nov 9, 2005
ARH-70A First Flight Jul 20, 2006
Bell Helicopter Model 206 40th anniversary Jan 13, 2007
Bell 429 Helicopter Continuing Paces of Flight Test Program Mar 29, 2007
ARH-70A Continues Development May 10, 2007
Bell 429 at Paris Air Show Update Jun 18, 2007
Bell OH-58 Kiowa Hits 300,000 Combat Hours Aug 8, 2007
ARH Program Exceeds 1,000 Flight Hours in 15 Months Nov 1, 2007
|
|
|
