N5751M Bell 206L-1 Long Ranger c/n 45522 - Welborn Baptist Hospital LifeFlight - Evansville, USA - 28/01/1993

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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 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. Late 1973, the development of a stretched Jet Ranger was announced. This Long Ranger flew first in 1974 and production started early 1975. The Bell 206L accommodates 7 seats.

The EMS helicopter in Evansville in Indiana, USA is based at St.Mary's Riverside campus and operated as 'St.Mary's LifeFlight', known before as 'Life Flight of the Welborn Baptist Hospital'. In 1999, 'Life Flight of the Welborn Baptist Hospital' was renamed after St.Mary's purchased the Welborn Baptist Hospital. The 1980 built "LifeFlight/WELBORN Baptist Hospital" Long Ranger N5751M was photographed at the airport of Evansville on 28 January 1993. Long Ranger N5751M is owned by Air Methods - Air Medical Services Division and is an example for the EMS helicopters used the USA in the nineties.