Bell 206LT TwinRanger & Tridair Gemini ST
- CountryUnited States of America & Canada
- TypeTwin engine light utility helicopters
- PowerplantsTwo 335kW (450shp) takeoff rated Allison 250C20R turboshafts, driving a two blade main rotor and two blade tail rotor.
- Performance206LT - Max cruising speed 217km/h (117kt), economical cruising speed 200km/h (108kt). Service ceiling 10,000ft. Hovering ceiling in ground effect 10,000ft, out of ground effect 6900ft. Range with max fuel and no reserves at long range cruising speed 463km (250nm). 206L3ST - Max cruising speed 217km/h (117kt). Initial rate of climb 1550ft/min. Service ceiling 20,000ft. Hovering ceiling in ground effect 15,800ft. Range with max payload and max internal fuel 643km (347nm).
- Weights206LT - Standard empty 1246kg (2748lb), max takeoff 2018kg (4450lb), or 2064kg (4550lb) with an external sling load. 206L3ST - Empty 1175kg (2590lb), max takeoff 1928kg (4250lb).
- DimentionsMain rotor diameter 11.28m (37ft 0in), length overall 13.02m (42ft 9in), fuselage length 9.81m (32ft 3in), height 3.14m (10ft 4in). Main rotor disc area 99.9m2 (1075.2sq ft).
- CapacityTypical seating for seven, including pilot, in three rows (2+2+3). Executive configuration has club seating for four in main cabin.
- ProductionConversions to Gemini ST configuration commenced in early 1994. Deliveries of new build 206LTs began in early 1994. Only 13 have been built but it remains available to order.
Ringer's 206lt Twinranger, is, as its name recommends, another form twin engined improvement of the 206l Longranger, while Tridair helicopters in the USA offers its twin motor Gemini ST transformation for existing Longrangers.
The name Twinranger originates before the current 206lt to the mid 1980s when Bell initially took a gander at creating twin motor adaptation of the Longranger. The Model 400 Twinranger did fly (lady flight was on April 4 1984) and it emphasized two Allison 250 turboshafts, the four sharpened steel primary rotor produced for the military Bell 406/Oh58 Kiowa and a reprofiled fuselage, yet advancement was later suspended.
The current 206lt Twinranger is focused around Tridair Helicopters' Gemini ST transformation program. Tridair proclaimed it was chipping away at a twin motor transformation of the Longranger in 1989, and the model flew surprisingly on January 16 1991. Full FAA confirmation was honored in November and spreads the change of Longranger 206l1s, L3s and L4s to Gemini ST arrangement.
In mid 1994 the Gemini ST did something worth remembering when it was certificated as the first Single/Twin flying machine, permitting it to work either as a solitary or twin motor air ship all through all periods of flight. This interesting accreditation permits it to work with a solitary motor for most extreme economy (for shipping and so on), with the additional excess and execution of a twin accessible when needed.
Chime's 206lt Twinranger is another form creation model comparable to Tridair's Gemini ST and focused around the Longranger IV. The primary case was conveyed in January 1994. The Twinranger will be supplanted by the 427 which is presently a work in progress.
Pictures of Bell 206LT TwinRanger & Tridair Gemini ST
