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.
As of 2012, Bell has delivered more than 6,300 Bell 206s, including all its variants, since it began the production in 1967.
The Bell 206 JetRanger was also built by Agusta in Italy as the AB206 .
Bell YOH-4
The civilian market saw the introduction of upgraded models such as the Bell 206B five-seat version and the Bell 206L LongRanger, a stretched seven-seat variant which added two rear-facing seats in between the front and rear seats.
The two-engine Bell 206LT Twin Ranger performed first flight in 1990.
After these success models, 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. With a lengthened fuselage and improved avionics became the Bell 429 in 2004.
The US Army improved the large Kiowa fleet through the OH-58C to the Bell 406 AHIP (Advanced Helicopter Improvement Program). Named OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, was capable of firing fire-and-forget type missiles such as the Hellfire and introduced the characteristic ball-shaped structure mounted at the top of the rotor.
In 1993, the US Army awarded Bell the NTH (New Training Helicopter program), a $85 million contract to build 102 new 206B3 as the TH-67 Creek training helicopter to replace the TH-1 Huey at the Fort Rucker aviation school.
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 24 days with an average speed of 65.97 km/h.
After the RAH-66 Comanche cancellation, 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.
US Army OH-58A Kiowa
OH-58A Cockpit
OH-58D loading on USAF C-5 Galaxy
US Navy TH-57 Sea Ranger
Bell 206L4
US Army OH-58D Kiowa Warrior (Bell 406 AHIP)
US Army Bell TH-67 Creek
Bell 407
Bell 427
Bell ARH-70 Arapaho (US Army ARH)
Database:
Bell 206
Bell 407
Bell 427
Bell 429
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
As of 2012, Bell has delivered more than 6,300 Bell 206s, including all its variants, since it began the production in 1967.
The Bell 206 JetRanger was also built by Agusta in Italy as the AB206 .
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 found to be a commercial success. The military version was first adopted by the US Navy as the TH-57 Sea Ranger for training purposes. Nevertheless, in 1968 the 206A was selected as the "LOH 2nd Edition" winner and entered into US Army inventory as the OH-58A Kiowa.
Militarized Bell 206 were adopted by numerous countries, including Australia, Canada ( as CH-136 / CH-139 ) and Mexico.
The 206 was defeated by the Hughes OH-6 but a much-modified derivative, the Bell 206A was found to be a commercial success. The military version was first adopted by the US Navy as the TH-57 Sea Ranger for training purposes. Nevertheless, in 1968 the 206A was selected as the "LOH 2nd Edition" winner and entered into US Army inventory as the OH-58A Kiowa.
Militarized Bell 206 were adopted by numerous countries, including Australia, Canada ( as CH-136 / CH-139 ) and Mexico.
Bell YOH-4
The civilian market saw the introduction of upgraded models such as the Bell 206B five-seat version and the Bell 206L LongRanger, a stretched seven-seat variant which added two rear-facing seats in between the front and rear seats.
The two-engine Bell 206LT Twin Ranger performed first flight in 1990.
After these success models, 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. With a lengthened fuselage and improved avionics became the Bell 429 in 2004.
The US Army improved the large Kiowa fleet through the OH-58C to the Bell 406 AHIP (Advanced Helicopter Improvement Program). Named OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, was capable of firing fire-and-forget type missiles such as the Hellfire and introduced the characteristic ball-shaped structure mounted at the top of the rotor.
In 1993, the US Army awarded Bell the NTH (New Training Helicopter program), a $85 million contract to build 102 new 206B3 as the TH-67 Creek training helicopter to replace the TH-1 Huey at the Fort Rucker aviation school.
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 24 days with an average speed of 65.97 km/h.
After the RAH-66 Comanche cancellation, 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.
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 Kiowa Warrior : 1981
Bell 406CS Combat Scout : 1988
TH-67A Creek : 1992
Bell 407 : 1994
Bell 427 : 1995
Bell ARH-70 Arapaho ARH : 2005
Bell 429 : 2007
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 Kiowa Warrior : 1981
Bell 406CS Combat Scout : 1988
TH-67A Creek : 1992
Bell 407 : 1994
Bell 427 : 1995
Bell ARH-70 Arapaho ARH : 2005
Bell 429 : 2007
OH-58C Specifications :
Crew / Load: 2 / 4
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
Crew / Load: 2 / 4
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
Variants
US Army OH-58A Kiowa
OH-58A Cockpit
OH-58D loading on USAF C-5 Galaxy
US Navy TH-57 Sea Ranger
Bell 206L4
US Army Bell TH-67 Creek
Bell 407
Bell 427
Bell ARH-70 Arapaho (US Army ARH)
Database:
Bell 206 Bell 407 Bell 427 Bell 429 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 