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 Bell 206 Jet Ranger. The prototype of this five-seat commercial model, 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. Model 206 was built under license by Agusta in Italy as AB.206 Jet Ranger.
More than 4800 206Bs and 1700 206Ls have been produced since the introduction of the Bell 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 will remain in production.
Agusta-Bell 206B Jet Ranger II c/n 8076 was built in 1968 as an AB-206A Jet Ranger and registered G-AWLL in the UK with Sir Robert McAlpine
and Sons Limited, Aviation Division, Luton Airport, on 5 July 1968. The helicopter was upgraded to an AB-206B Jet Ranger II and registered
as such on 25 November 1977. In 1993, the G-AWLL was sold in Holand and the registration was cancelled on 31 August 1993. Registration PH-HXH
was reserved for this helicopter on 2 June 1993, but the aircraft was registered PH-HWH with Heli-Holland Holding BV, Emmer-Compascuum, on 3 September 1993.
The helicopter was photographed at the temporary airfield in Buurse. This airfield is created just for one day a year in behalf of the Vliegshow Buurse, the anual
airshow in Buurse.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
