The Agusta-Bell AB.206B JetRanger II is a 5-seat light utility helicopter powered by a single Rolls Royce Allison 250-C20
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 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. 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. Bell 206 aircraft are currently produced at Bell Helicopter's facility in Mirabel, Canada.
Production of the Bell 206B3 JetRanger ended in 2011. The Bell 206L4 LongRanger IV remained in production.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the AB206B helicopters is B06.
Agusta-Bell 206B Jet Ranger II s/n 8633 was built in 1982 and registered OE-DXE in Austria. On 11 September 1984, the JetRanger
was registered EC-DUS with Iceberg Agricola in Spain. The EC-DUS was transferred to Heliswiss Ibérica. On 10 July 1997, in service with
Heliswiss Ibérica, the EC-DUS was damaged in an accident at Puerto Lumbreras (Murcia). The JetRanger was transferred to the UK and
registered G-BXUF with SJ Contracting Services, Oxford, UK, on 12 May 1998. When noted at heliport Emmen, the G-BFUX was hired by Heli
Holland. In service with Heli Holland, the JetRanger was utilised with special equipment, including GPS Receivers, part of and
used for the FLI-MAP (Fast Laser Imaging - Mapping and Profiling) surveying and mapping method. By flying multiple passes with the FLI-MAP
system, wide corridors and wide areas can be surveyed. JetRanger II G-BXUF was used at that time in the province Friesland,
the Netherlands, in companion with LongRanger PH-HHK and
JetRanger PH-HWH.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
