The Bell 206L1 LongRanger II is a 7-seat light utility helicopter powered by a single Rolls Royce Allison 250-C20B
turbine engine. In 1961, Bell developed Model 206 as the OH-4A to meet the U.S.Army requirements. The OH-4A flew
first on 8 December 1962. However the Bell OH-4A didn't win the competition, the helicopter was a
success as the Bell 206 JetRanger. The prototype of this five-seat commercial model, the Bell 206A
JetRanger N8590F, flew on 10 January 1966. Bell received FAA certification for the helicopter on
20 October 1966, and deliveries of the Model 206A powered by a 317 shp Allison C18A engine, started
in January 1967. In the early 1970s, production switched to the Model 206B JetRanger II with a 400 shp
250-C20 turboshaft. In September 1973, the development of the LongRanger, a stretched JetRanger was announced.
The 206L LongRanger flew first on 11 September 1974 and production started early 1975. The Model 206L1
LongRanger II was introduced in 1978. More than 4800 206Bs and 1700 206Ls have been produced since the
introduction of the 206A JetRanger on 13 January 1967, when the first two production aircraft were delivered to customers.
Since, Bell has delivered five different generations of the commercial 206 with its 206A/B JetRangers and
206L/L1/L3/L4 LongRangers. Production of the Bell 206B3 JetRanger ended in 2011; production of the Bell 206L4
LongRanger IV ended in June 2017. At the end, the Bell 206 aircraft were produced at Bell Helicopter's facility
in Mirabel, Canada. The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator with Wake Category used to classify aircraft types for
the Bell 206L helicopters is B06
1983-built Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-3 Long Ranger c/n 51028 was registered N42814 in the USA.
On 15 May 1992, registration N42814 was cancelled as exported to Canada. The LongRanger was
registered C-GRLK in Canada with Alpine Helicopters Ltd., Kelowna (BC) on 21 September 1998.
Long Ranger III C-GRLK was seen in the Mountain Rescue Service Canada / Alpine Helicopters colours
at Alpine Helicopters heliport, Canmore, Alberta, on 11 June 1999. Alpine Helicopters Ltd., Canmore,
provides air SAR support and avalanche control services for Parks Canada.
Bell 206L3 Long Ranger C-GRLK was operated as SAR-helicopter out of Canmore in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The pilots
on the rescue helicopters operated by Alpine Helicopters have received training in helicopter sling
manoeuvres and mountain rescue techniques. Alpine Helicopter Ltd, Canmore, was founded back in 1983 as
Canmore Helicopters. Since, Canmore Helicopters became a wholly owned subsidiary of Alpine Helicopters, Kelowna.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
