Aircraft overview
The Bell 206B JetRanger is a light, single-turbine helicopter with a two-bladed main rotor, a two-bladed tail rotor and skid landing gear. The cabin provides a pilot’s position and up to four passenger places.
The JetRanger II uses a Rolls-Royce/Allison 250-C20 engine, with different installed power and loading limits from later JetRanger and LongRanger configurations.
Photograph: Tony Hisgett · 2010-06-13 · Photo source: G-OPEN Bell Helicopters 206B-3 (4701333138) · CC BY 2.0 · Unmodified photograph.
.jpg){kind=link}
At a glance
Bell 206B JetRanger II · early 250-C20 configuration
- Engine
- One 250-C20 turboshaftRolls-Royce/Allison 250-C20 installation.
- Installed continuous / take-off power
- 270 /317 hpTake-off rating limited to five minutes.
- Main rotor
- Two blades ·10.16 m diameterSeparate from overall rotor-running length.
- Tail rotor
- Two blades ·1.65 m diameterConventional tail rotor.
- Fuselage length
- 9.50 mBody length; does not include the full rotor-running envelope.
- Maximum normal internal weight
- 3,200 lb ·1,451 kgBaseline reference; optional or external-load configurations have separate conditions.
- Cabin
- One pilot + up to four passengersMaximum passenger arrangement; actual interiors differ.
In Air Defender
Role guidance · v0.8.16.0
Air Defender v0.8.16.0 includes the Bell 206 JetRanger as a civilian-helicopter reference. The catalogue description does not establish the load or purpose of an individual contact.
Compare the larger Bell 407, then use Aircraft Data and flight-plan information for the selected flight.
Game catalogue values · v0.8.16.0
In-game specifications
These figures come from the game’s general aircraft reference. A matching civilian register entry can supply different fields in Aircraft Data. How to read the two layouts →
- Role
- Light Utility Helicopter
- Category
- Light Helicopter
- Service ceiling
- 13,500 ftA reference upper height. Read Flight Info for the contact’s present height.
- Maximum speed
- 120 knotsA reference maximum, not the speed the aircraft is flying now.
- Cruise speed
- 110 knotsA typical speed for the main part of a flight, not a guaranteed commanded speed.
- Stall speed
- Not specified as a stall-speed valueA zero in the game catalogue means no usable stall-speed figure is supplied; it does not mean the rotor blades cannot stall. FAA helicopter handbook: rotor-blade stall →
- Typical crew
- 1
- Powerplant
- Single turboshaft engine (Allison 250) Compare engine types →
- Manufacturer
- Bell Helicopter (USA)
Use the right procedure
In depth
Rotor and airframe layout
The 206B uses two blades in both its main and tail rotors. The main rotor is 10.16 m across, and the tail rotor is 1.65 m across.
The published body dimensions describe the fuselage and skids. They are not the total space occupied by the rotor tips while running.
Installed turbine power
The JetRanger II uses the 250-C20 turboshaft. Its installed limits are 317 hp for five minutes and 270 hp continuously.
Those power limits apply to the JetRanger II’s 250-C20 installation. A rating for another 250-series engine does not give the permitted power for this helicopter.
Cabin and loading
The 206B accommodates one pilot and up to four passengers. Its normal gross-weight limit is 3,200 lb (1,451 kg).
External-load approvals have separate conditions and do not create an equivalent increase in cabin loading. Seats, fuel, baggage and installed equipment remain part of the relevant weight calculation.
Fuel and configuration
The early 206B fuel installation provides 288 litres of usable fuel. A 344-litre arrangement applies from serial 3567; the later capacity is separate from the early JetRanger II configuration.
Reference tank capacity describes an installation, not the amount remaining during a flight. The aircraft’s weight and centre-of-gravity limits continue to govern its loaded condition.
Type and configuration development
The 206B received its original FAA approval on 19 August 1971. The early serial groups identified as JetRanger II are distinct from later 206B configurations covered elsewhere in the type certificate.
Variants
206B JetRanger II
Early 250-C20 configuration, with serial applicability specified in the type record.
Later 206B configurations
Different approved engines and serial groups; their limits are separate.