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Foto: Bob Adams from Amanzimtoti, South Africa · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Bell Helicopter

Bell 206B JetRanger III

B06
Light Turbine HelicopterDiscontinued1962–2010
Range
374 NM · 693 km
MTOW
1,451 kg
Cruise
117 kt · 217 km/h
Seats
5
5 seats (pilot included)
Used price
US$ 525,000

The Bell 206B JetRanger III is a light turbine helicopter produced between 1962 and 2010. Price: the Bell 206B JetRanger III is out of production and, used, the market median is around US$ 525,000. Median from Jet Tracker's price research as of 06/2026. It has a range of 374 nm, a cruise speed of 117 kt (217 km/h), 5 seats (pilot included). In Brazil there are 85 active units in the RAB-ANAC, excluding cancelled registrations. There are 94 aircraft from this family for sale today, across 107 listings on the portals Jet Tracker tracks (global market, not Brazil only).

Source: RAB-ANAC (data as of 11/8/2026) and Jet Tracker catalog (spec sheet reviewed on 10/30/2026).

Acquisition price · pre-owned market
107 active listings (global)Jet Tracker curation · 6 sources · 6/4/2026
US$ 525.0KR$ 2.9M
market medianaging ≈ −2.5%/yr−63% vs Light Turbine Helicopter median
Entry
US$ 400.0K
model year 1985
Best value
US$ 525.0K
model year 1990
Top of range
US$ 900.0K
model year 2009
Basis
Listings
real listings
Minimum
US$ 375.0K
R$ 2.1M
Median
US$ 525.0K
R$ 2.9M
Maximum
US$ 699.0K
R$ 3.9M
Depreciation curve by year of manufacture
CAGR +2.6%/yr·1979→2009
Market median by vintage (USD). Light-blue band = min/max range observed across real listings. Points without reliable public listings (n ≤ 1) use Bluebook/curve interpolation and are flagged as lower confidence.
3 of 5 points with reduced confidence (n ≤ 1 listing observed). The estimate for these years comes from Aircraft Bluebook / market-curve interpolation, not from direct listings.
Landed in Brazil

Index ≈ ×1.21 to ×1.64 on the aircraft value, already with ferry, ANAC nationalization, IPI and ICMS.

Through a qualified importer
US$ 452.8K – 1.0M
R$ 2.5M – 5.6M · Agreement 75/91 · IPI + ICMS ~7 to 12%
Direct import
US$ 516.9K – 1.1M
R$ 2.9M – 6.3M · IPI + full ICMS ~25 to 32%

Market estimate: value + ferry + ANAC nationalization + taxes, no legal review. II, PIS and COFINS are 0% for aircraft (NCM 88.02); IPI is 6.5% (3.25% for air taxi) until Dec 31, 2026; ~4% ICMS only through a qualified importer (Agreement 75/91).

Cost per flight hour
Operate · owned
US$ 434/h
R$ 2.4K/h · Variable/h
Fixed/yr
US$ 131.6K
Total/h @ 200 hrs/yr
US$ 1.1K/h
Charter · 🌎 World
US$ 950 – 2.4K/h
R$ 5.2K – 13.0K/h
Charter · 🇧🇷 Brazil
US$ 1.3K – 1.8K/h
R$ 7.0K – 10.0K/h

Operate = direct cost/hour (fuel + maintenance + engine); excludes fixed costs (hangar, crew, insurance). World: hourly rate published by charter operators. Brazil: charter is quoted per leg, so the hourly figure is an estimate from route quotes.

How we read this price · 6 sources · researched 6/4/2026

Median and price range for pre-owned aircraft, compiled by Jet Tracker from asking prices in listings and the price guides in the sources below, checked on 6/4/2026. 4 of 5 model years have an observed listing. The rest are estimates from the market curve between model years and are flagged in the chart.

PTAX · R$ 5.518 / US$ · 11/06/2026

Market estimates for guidance only, not a firm quote. Confirm the value with a broker/appraiser before any transaction.

Temporal identity

First flight
Dec 08, 1962
FAA cert.
Aug 19, 1971
ANAC cert.
—
Deliveries start
Jan 13, 1967
Units produced
7,300

The Bell 206B JetRanger III is a light turbine helicopter built by Bell between 1962 and 2010, now out of production, and occupies the entry tier of turbine rotorcraft for business use. It seats up to 5 occupants, has a range of 374 nm, a cruise speed of 117 kt, a maximum takeoff weight of 1,451 kg and a service ceiling of 13,500 ft, with a reference price of USD 850,000 when new. For those who buy or operate in Brazil, the ICAO code B06 organizes the search for certified repair shops, parts and market comparables, since production ended in 2010.

Detailed specs

Performance

Engine
1x Rolls-Royce (Allison) 250-C20J turboshaft
Engine type
Single-turbine 420 shp
Max speed
130 kt
Endurance
3.5 h
Fuel
343 L
Fuel
90.6 gal
Rate of climb
1,350 ft/min
Service ceiling
13,500 ft
Hover ceiling (IGE)
12,800 ft
Hover ceiling (OGE)
8,800 ft
Main rotor diameter
10.16 m

Cabin and comfort

Doors
4 doors + external baggage door
Seats
5
Optional air conditioning
Yes
Configuration
5 seats (1 pilot + 1 copilot + 3 in aft bench seat)
Typical configuration
Crew 1 + Bench 4
Useful load
691 kg
Noise attenuation
Quiet cabin by the standards of the era, ANR recommended
Baggage compartment
16 cu ft

Avionics and engines

Cockpit
Traditional analog steam gauges, Garmin G500H/G500H TXi retrofits common
Autopilot
Not available from the factory, STC retrofits HeliSAS, BendixKing AeroCruze
Transponder
Garmin GTX 335/345 with ADS-B Out (mandatory retrofit)
GPS (retrofit)
Garmin GTN 750/650, GNS 530W/430W, common
Weather radar
Not available

Operating costs

Data source
BoltFlight, Bell 206B II Price and Operating Costs (2024) · Aircraft Cost Calculator, Bell 206B3 Ownership Price & Operating Costs (2024) · BWI Fly, Bell 206 Operating Cost (2024) · Rolls-Royce/Allison 250-C20J turboshaft TBO 3,500h
Fuel burn
26 gal/h
Last updated
2026
Rotor overhaul interval
2,500 h
Market price (low)
US$ 350,000
Engine overhaul interval
3,500 h
Market price (high)
US$ 950,000

External dimensions

Overall length
9.5 m
Wingspan
10.16 m
Height
2.91 m

Weights & fuel

Operating empty weight (OEW)
737 kg
Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)
1,451 kg
Fuel capacity
343 L
Fuel capacity
614 lb

Cabin

Standard configuration
1 zone5 typical seats (pilot included)1 crew4-seat bench

Typical factory configuration (curated data). The drawing below is schematic and at approximate scale; the actual layout varies by interior and year.

Length
—
Width
—
Height
—
Volume
—
Baggage
—

History

  1. 1962First flight
  2. 1967First deliveries
  3. 1967 - Military origin as the OH-58 Kiowa became a civil bestseller in 1967

    The Bell 206 was born as a military project for the US Army's LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) program in the 1960s, lost the first competition to the Hughes 369 but won the second. Bell adapted the design for civil use in 1966, certified the 206A JetRanger in October 1966 and began deliveries in 1967. The civil design was so successful that the Army eventually adopted a modified version as the OH-58 Kiowa (1969). More than 7,300 units produced, an all-time single-turbine record.

    Bell Textron
  4. 1971FAA certification
  5. 1977 - Variants include the 206L LongRanger, the 206B-3 and a military derivative

    The 206 family evolved over generations: 206A JetRanger (1967), 206B (1971, more powerful engine), 206B-III (1977, final improvements), 206L LongRanger (1975, stretched fuselage, 7 PAX), 206L-1/L-3/L-4 (LongRanger variants), TH-67 Creek (Army training version), OH-58 Kiowa (military). Each variant served a specific niche: 206B-III for utility/training, 206L for EMS and executive, OH-58 for armed reconnaissance. Total for the family: 7,300+ units.

    Bell Textron
  6. 2010End of production

Brazil Fleet

248 registrations in the RAB (all statuses)

Full analysis: listing, mark reservations, charts and change log in the ANAC Monitor.

Open Analytics

Lineage

Model with no documented lineage in the manufacturer's line.

Curiosities and highlights

Benefits

Absolute standard in ENG, EMS and turbine training

For more than 4 decades the Bell 206B was the universal helicopter: all the American TV networks (CNN, FOX, NBC) had 206Bs with gyro-stabilized cameras for news coverage. Rural American EMS standardized on the 206B before migrating to the AS350/EC135. Aviation schools trained thousands of commercial pilots in the 206B. Police in all 50 US states had a 206. It became a cultural icon, appearing in films (Magnum P.I., Airwolf), series and documentaries for generations.

Legendary reliability of the Allison 250-C20 engine

The Allison 250 (today the Rolls-Royce M250) that powers the 206B has more than 34,000 units delivered and 296 million flight hours since 1962, one of the most reliable aircraft engines in history. TBO of 3,500 hours, moderate overhaul cost (~USD 250,000), parts available worldwide. Modest hot/high performance (hover OGE 8,800 ft) is the only limitation, addressed by more powerful engines in the 206L LongRanger and Bell 407 variants.

Limitations

Production discontinued in 2010, replaced by the 407 and 505

Bell ended 206B production in October 2010 after 43 continuous years. The Mirabel (Canada) line was converted to the Bell 429 and the entry-level segment moved to the Bell 407 (1996, an evolution with a more powerful engine) and later the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X (2017, modern successor). The active fleet of 4,000+ units remains supported by Bell and third-party MROs; parts are still available but costs rise 5-8% per year due to growing scarcity.

2010Bell Textron

Curiosities

AeroLeo, Helisul and PoliciaMilitar SP flew the 206B in Brazil

In Brazil the Bell 206B was ubiquitous between 1980-2010: the São Paulo Military Police operated multiple units (today replaced by AS350 B2/B3 and H135), the Federal Police used it for tactical operations, Globo's ENG in SP/RJ had a sizable fleet, and low-cost executive air charter operations (Helisul, Sky, Líder Aviação) standardized on the 206B. The active Brazilian fleet in 2024 still exceeds 80 units, used predominantly in ENG, training and regional executive transport.

ANAC RAB

Catalogued accidents

Sources: NTSB, CENIPA, Aviation Safety Network

7/30/2015· BR· SÃO JOSÉ DOS AUSENTES
PT-YLD
Serious

In-flight collision with obstacle

7/21/2015· BR· LONDRINA
PP-EJH
Serious

Loss of control on the ground

6/16/2015· BR· OURO PRETO
PT-YDY
Fatal · 3

In-flight collision with obstacle

10/4/2013· BR· SÃO CAETANO DO SUL
PT-HTU
Serious

System or component failure

8/30/2013· BR· MATÕES DO NORTE
PT-HUE
Serious

Engine failure in flight

7/7/2013· BR· ICÉM
PT-HCH
Serious

Fuel exhaustion

1/21/2013· BR· SÃO PAULO
PR-JBN
Fatal · 1

Loss of control in flight

9/25/2012· BR· FOZ DO IGUAÇU
PT-HSN
Serious

System or component failure

6/14/2012· BR· PAÇO DO LUMIAR
PT-YCN
Fatal · 1

Other

8/2/2011· BR· BELO HORIZONTE
PT-HCZ
Serious

Engine failure in flight

Registrations in Brazil

49 operational aircraft owned by companies in the ANAC registry (RAB). Each opens the profile with owner, operator, status and history.

PP-EJIPP-JFRPP-MBOPP-MBYPP-MCPPP-MDEPR-EBLPR-HHDPR-HIBPR-HMAPR-HPBPR-HSUPR-JENPR-NMDPR-UUUPS-ERRPS-HDSPT-HDCPT-HGBPT-HHNPT-HOSPT-HOYPT-HPAPT-HPHPT-HQWPT-HRQPT-HTUPT-HURPT-HVUPT-HXDPT-HXOPT-YALPT-YAPPT-YCAPT-YCMPT-YDDPT-YDGPT-YEGPT-YGRPT-YGZPT-YHNPT-YMEPT-YMLPT-YMSPT-YNBPT-YRCPT-YTAPT-YUBPT-YVY

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Bell 206B JetRanger III cost?

The Bell 206B JetRanger III is out of production, so there is no factory price. On the used market the median is around US$ 525,000, varying with year and flight hours; see real listings on this model's Market tab. Reference value as of 06/2026.

What is the range of the Bell 206B JetRanger III?

The maximum range is 374 nm (374 NM · 693 km).

How fast is the Bell 206B JetRanger III?

Cruise speed is 117 kt, equivalent to 217 km/h.

How many passengers does the Bell 206B JetRanger III seat?

The Bell 206B JetRanger III has 5 seats in total, counting the pilot seat: up to 4 passengers.

How many Bell 206B JetRanger III are there in Brazil?

There are 85 active units in the RAB-ANAC (data as of 11/8/2026): operational, mark reservation or suspended, excluding cancelled registrations.

Who operates the Bell 206B JetRanger III in Brazil?

69 distinct operators operate 83 units of the Bell 206B JetRanger III in the RAB-ANAC: 31 in air taxi (RBAC 135) and 52 in private operation (RBAC 91), concentrated in RJ, SP and SC (data as of 11/8/2026). Another 1 unit is under registration reservation (tail number reserved, not yet operating). Not included in that count: 1 unit run by a public body (police, fire department or government). Name, fleet and state of each operator are on this model's Analytics tab and in the operators directory.

How much does it cost to operate the Bell 206B JetRanger III per hour?

Jet Tracker estimate: about US$ 1,092 per flight hour at 200 h/year, of which US$ 434 per hour is variable cost (fuel, engine program, maintenance reserves) plus US$ 131,550 per year of fixed cost (crew, hangar, insurance), under Jet Tracker's default assumptions (Southeast Brazil, in-house crew, 200 h/year). Run your own scenario on this model's Costs tab.