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Bell 206 JetRanger/OH-58 Kiowa


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In 1960, the U.S. Army requested a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH).  Bell developed the HO-4 for this requirement but lost out to the Hughes HO-6 (later OH-6).

The HO-4 served as the prototype for the Model 206 JetRanger that first flew in 1966.  When the Hughes had problems delivering the OH-6, the Army re-opened the competition.  This time Bell won with a militarized version of the JetRanger receiving the designation OH-58 Kiowa.

The Model 206 is still in production with well over 7,000 having been produced.

 
 Specifications (206B)  Designations
 
Type: Light Helicopter
Seats: 5
Engine: one 420 hp (313 kW) Allison 250-C20B turboshaft
HO-4: U.S. Army designation of prototype
206: Bell designation of civil model
206L: stretched version (named LongRanger)
TH-57: U.S. Navy trainer helicopter (named SeaRanger)
OH-58: U.S. Army observation helicopter
COH-58: Canadian version (later CH-136)
AH-58: Armed version (named Kiowa Warrior)
 
 Related Pages  Related Websites
 
More about Bell Aircraft
 
KiowaPilots.com
 

page updated 11 February 2008

 

 

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© Kenneth W Shanaberger 2000 - 2010