The Agusta-Bell AB.206B JetRanger III is a 5-seat light utility helicopter powered by a single Rolls Royce Allison 250-C20 turbine engine. In 1961, twelve companies submitted proposals to meet U.S.Army requirements for a four-seat turbine-powered light observation helicopter. After evaluation, three designs were selected and 5 of each: the Bell OH-4A; the Hiller OH-5 and the Hughes OH-6, were ordered for trials by the U.S.Army Aviation Board. The prototype of this Model 206 made its first flight on 8 December 1962. However the Bell OH-4A didn't win the competition, the helicopter was a success as the Bell 206 Jet Ranger. 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. Next to this commercial success the Jet Ranger entered after all also the military scene: the Bell 206 Jet Ranger was ordered in 1962 by the US Navy as the TH-57 Sea Ranger. Due to the higher unit price and significant deliver delays on the original winner of the 1961 U.S.Army competition for a light observation helicopter, the Hughes OH-6, the U.S. Army reopened in 1968 the light observation helicopter (LOH) bidding. This time Bell was the winner and an initial order for 2200 OH-58A Kiowa, a military version of the Model 206A followed. Deliveries of the OH-58A helicopters began in May 1969. The Model 206 was built under license by Agusta in Italy as the AB.206 Jet Ranger. 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 for the Bell 206B helicopters is B06

In 1972, Agusta-Bell AB.206A JetRanger s/n 8323 was registered OE-BXR in Austria with Bundesministerium für Inneres for operations with the Flugpolizie (Austrian Police). In 1976. the AB.206A JetRanger OE-BXR in service with the Flugpolizei was modified to an AB.206B JetRanger II. In 1983, registration OE-BXR was cancelled as exported to Germany. In October 1983, the AB.206B JetRanger II was registered D-HAFC with HSD - Hubschrauber-Sonder-Dienst at Harste Heliport. In 1989, the D-HAFC went to Agrarflug Helilift, Ahlen, and was modified to an Agusta-Bell AB.206B JetRanger III. On 1 January 2003, HSD and Rotorflug started collaboration under the umbrella brand "BLUE Helicopter Alliance". In 2006, Rotorflug became the opertaor of the Agusta-Bell AB.206B JetRanger III D-HAFC, and in September 2008, the helicopter was transferred to Rotorflug. In 2015, The D-HAFC was leased for a few months by Heli NRW. Today, the Agusta-Bell AB.206B JetRanger III D-HAFC is stationed at Diepholz-Dümmerland airfield.
On 12 May 2019, Agusta-Bell AB.206B JetRanger III D-HAFC was seen operating sightseeing flights at Flugplatz Diepholz-Dümmerland (ETND), one of the operational bases of Rotorflug.

►  aeroplanes index   helicopters index   EC120 - H120 productionlist   Micro Light Aeroplanes   European Airfields ◄