Bell 206 Jet Ranger – a powerful toy for the rich
The JetRanger series has been a corporate helicopter for the past thirty years. It has become an ultimate light utility vehicle that is powered by a turbine. The JetRanger was engineered for the purpose of contending in a light observation helicopter competition held by the US Army. In this competition a helicopter by name Hughes 500 emerged successful.
JetRanger has a great history and is quiet interesting as well. The first model JetRanger 206 flew across the sky for the first time on December 8, 1962. The subsequent models like civil 206A which was run with the power of a 235k W Allison C18A made its flight it on January 10, 1966. The initial production of the JetRangers also made it to the market on the same year 1966.
Model 206B JetRanger II that was powered by a 300kW (400shp) 250C20 turboshaft hit the market in the early 1970s. The model was an upgrade of the previous ones. The third most prominent variant of the JetRanger series is the JetRanger III that runs smoothly with the support of 315kW (420shp) 250C20B. The deliveries were made in 1977.
There were many such constant upgrades that took place through many conversion kits that helped to evolve the JetRanger series as a whole new range. Many great features like the big improved tail rotors were made use of. There were many minor modifications that were crucial for the efficient functioning. There were also attempts to use the 206A model for the Australian Army but this plan did not come to pass.
The JetRanger production facility was shifted from Texas to Mirabel in Canada in the year 1986. Model 206B3 JetRanger III remains the recent production model. The US Army accepted the JetRanger as an observation helicopter since the OH58 Kiowa and the different models of the Kiowa remain in construction in the US.
