The Bell 206B JetRanger II 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 then, 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.
The 1976-built Bell 206B JetRanger II s/n 2043 was registered N9965K, C-GUXC and G-BVWT before it entered
the Belgian register as OO-LER. On 7 December 1995, the Jet Ranger was registered as OO-LER with Louagie-Rychart
BVBA. On 16 September 2002, the OO-LER was transferred to MCT - Marketing Communication Team. The airframe was
damaged in a heavy landing at Monceau on 18 June 2005. After being repaired by Air Technology Belgium the helicopter
returned in service in August 2007. On 25 June 2008, JetRanger OO-LER was transferred to Héli Partner, Liège, and
on 10 February 2009, Danaos, Liège, was registered as owner of the helicopter. In 2015, the OO-LER was transferred to
Carrosserie Thierry Naze, Namur. On 19 October 2017, registration OO-LER was cancelled as exported to the USA. On 5
September 2018, the helicopter was registered N212SP in the US with Airman Helicopter Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
However registered in the USA, the Bell 206B JetRanger II N212SP is based in Belgium. On 24 October 2007, Bell 206B
JetRanger II OO-LER visited the Heli-Holland heliport near Emmen in the Netherlands.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
