Helicopters · Bell Textron
Bell 206 JetRanger / LongRanger B06
The Bell 206 JetRanger is a light single-engine turbine helicopter that became one of the most familiar helicopters in the world. The stretched LongRanger adds more cabin space.
Bell 206s airborne over the US now
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of all airborne aircraftplus — on the ground
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Bell 206s in the air over the last 24 hours
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Specifications
- ICAO code
- B06
- First flight
- 1966
- Typical cruise
- 115 kt / 132 mph
- Service ceiling
- 13,500 ft
- Range
- 370 nm / 426 mi
- Capacity
- 1 pilot and up to 4 passengers
- Length
- 11.8 m / 39 ft
- Rotor diameter
- 10.2 m / 33 ft
Engines: 1 x Allison / Rolls-Royce 250 turboshaft. Family: Bell 206/407. Figures are typical published values, rounded; real performance depends on variant, weight and conditions.
What it does in US skies
Bell 206s fly news, police, pipeline patrol, utility work and training across the US. Many are decades old but remain in daily use.
Main US operators: News stations, Police departments, Utility and pipeline patrol operators, Flight schools.
How to recognize a Bell 206
- Two-blade main rotor that makes a distinctive "whop-whop" sound
- Small, rounded cabin with a tapering tail boom
- Skid landing gear
- Smaller cabin than the four-blade Bell 407
How it looks on a flight tracker
Usually flies below 2,000 feet at 90 to 115 knots. Pipeline patrols show long, slow, straight tracks along a route.
History
The Bell 206A first flew in January 1966. The US Navy trained helicopter pilots in the TH-57 Sea Ranger version for decades.
Where Bell 206s are right now
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What is the ICAO code for the Bell 206 JetRanger / LongRanger?
The ICAO aircraft type designator for the Bell 206 JetRanger / LongRanger is B06. Flight trackers and flight plans use this four-character code.
How fast does the Bell 206 fly?
The Bell 206 JetRanger / LongRanger typically cruises at about 115 knots true airspeed (about 132 mph). Ground speed on a tracker varies with the wind.
How high can the Bell 206 fly?
Its service ceiling is about 13,500 ft.