Bell TH-57
in
US Navy

In January 1968, the US Navy purchased 40 commercial Bell 206A as the TH-57A Sea Ranger to use as their primary helicopter trainer. In 1989 they were replaced by the commercial Bell 206B-3 designated as TH-57B for primary training under visual flight rules. Starting in 1985, additional Bell 206B-3 configured for advanced training under instrument flight rules (IFR) were bought and designated as the TH-57C. The TH-57D is a planned upgrade program to convert existing TH-57B and TH-57C to a single standard digital cockpit.

157355 / 157394 : TH-57A Sea Ranger ( c/n 5001-5040 ) : 40 Bell 206A. from 1968. retired/donated
161695 / 161701 : TH-57B Sea Ranger : 7 Bell 206B from 1986
162013 / 162067 : TH-57C Sea Ranger : 55 Bell 206B IFR
162666 / 162686 : TH-57C Sea Ranger : 21 Bell 206B IFR
162803 / 162810 : TH-57B Sea Ranger : 8 Bell 206B
162811 / 162823 : TH-57C Sea Ranger ( c/n 3836/3848 ) : 13 Bell 206B IFR
163312 / 163347 : TH-57B Sea Ranger ( c/n 3882/3917 ) : 36 Bell 206B


TH-57 replacement : On January 2020, the US Navy selected the Leonardo AW119Kx/TH-119 as the new TH-73A. Sundown for the 35-year-old TH-57s, which are becoming more difficult to maintain due to obsolescence and lack the appropriate cockpit avionics and aircraft performance capability, will begin in fiscal year 2022 and conclude in fiscal year 2024. TH-73A deliveries are scheduled to begin in calendar year 2020 and continue through calendar year 2024