Bell 206
| Bell 206 JetRanger/LongRanger | |
|---|---|
| An LAPD Bell 206 JetRanger | |
| General information | |
| Type | Multipurpose utility helicopter |
| National origin | United States / Canada |
| Manufacturer | Bell Helicopter |
| Status | In service |
| Number built | 7,300 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1962–2017 |
| Introduction date | 1967 |
| First flight | December 8, 1962 (206) January 10, 1966 (206A) |
| Developed from | Bell YOH-4 |
| Variants | Bell OH-58 Kiowa Bell 407 |
| Developed into | Bell 400 TwinRanger |
The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- and twin-engined helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec, plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, it was not selected by the Army. Bell redesigned the airframe and successfully marketed the aircraft commercially as the five-place Bell 206A JetRanger. The new design was eventually selected by the Army as the OH-58 Kiowa.
Bell also developed a seven-place LongRanger, which was later offered with a twin-engined option as the TwinRanger, while Tridair Helicopters offers a similar conversion of the LongRanger called the Gemini ST. The ICAO-assigned model designation "B06" is used on flight plans for the JetRanger and LongRanger, and the designation "B06T" is used for the twin-engined TwinRangers.