Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the utility / transport helicopters category.
01 / Overview
Bell 206
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1962–2017
Quantity
7,300
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
UTILITY / TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS · EARLY COLD WAR
7
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
92
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the utility / transport helicopters category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- First Flight1962
- Service Entry Year1967
- Crew1
- Passengers5
- Primary RoleMultipurpose utility helicopter
- In ServiceYes
◈Powerplant8MOD.8
- Engine TypeAllison 250-C20
- Number of Engines1
- Engine Power (each)313 kW
- Transmission Rating313 kW
- Rotor ConfigurationTwo-bladed semi-rigid main rotor, two-bladed tail rotor
- Main Rotor Diameter10.16 m
- Main Rotor Blades2
- Anti-Torque TypeTail rotor
▣Performance10MOD.10
- Top Speed411 km/h
- Cruise Speed352 km/h
- Never-Exceed Speed (VNE)225 km/h
- Service Ceiling5,791 m
- Hover Ceiling (IGE)3,960 m
- Hover Ceiling (OGE)2,680 m
- Range374 km
- Ferry Range990 km
- Rate of Climb6.858 m/s
- Endurance240
◇Dimensions & Weights7MOD.7
- Fuselage Length10.16 m
- Height2.91 m
- Rotor Disc Area81.1
- Empty Weight737 kg
- Max Takeoff Weight1,451 kg
- Useful Load714 kg
- Cabin Volume1.4
◆Armament & Mission5MOD.5
- Hardpoints0
- Weapons Payload318 kg
- GunNone (some military variants armed with ATGMs)
- Sling Load Capacity680 kg
- Rescue HoistYes
▤Production2MOD.2
- Total Built7,300
- Variants58
⬢Service History4MOD.4
- Retirement Year2017
- Production Start1962
- Production End2017
- Operational StatusIn service
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1962Production started
- 1972Entered service
- 2017Production ended
64
years in service
55
years in production
7,300
units produced
50
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 1 countries retired it.
04 / Variants
▚ WEAPON FAMILY
05 / Operators
Operator Countries51country
AlbaniaACTIVE
ArgentinaACTIVE
AustraliaACTIVE
AustriaACTIVE
BangladeshACTIVE
BrazilACTIVE
BruneiACTIVE
BulgariaACTIVE
CameroonACTIVE
CanadaACTIVE
ChileACTIVE
ColombiaACTIVE
CroatiaACTIVE
CyprusACTIVE
Democratic Republic of the CongoACTIVE
Dominican RepublicACTIVE
EcuadorACTIVE
EthiopiaACTIVE
FinlandACTIVE
GreeceACTIVE
GuatemalaACTIVE
GuyanaACTIVE
IranACTIVE
IraqACTIVE
IsraelACTIVE
ItalyACTIVE
JamaicaACTIVE
JapanACTIVE
KuwaitACTIVE
LatviaACTIVE
LesothoACTIVE
MaltaACTIVE
MexicoACTIVE
MoroccoACTIVE
North MacedoniaACTIVE
OmanACTIVE
PakistanACTIVE
PeruACTIVE
PolandACTIVE
SerbiaACTIVE
SloveniaACTIVE
Sri LankaACTIVE
SwedenACTIVE
TaiwanACTIVE
ThailandACTIVE
TurkeyACTIVE
UgandaACTIVE
United StatesACTIVE
VenezuelaACTIVE
YemenACTIVE
IndonesiaRETIRED 06 / MASS Score
UTILITY / TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS RANKING Utility / Transport Helicopters · Early Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
102UTILITY / TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS7EARLY COLD WAR · UTILITY / TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS34CANADA · ALL WEAPONS13PERFORMANCE/PRICE · UTILITY / TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS
ⓘ Rankings are within theUtility / Transport Helicopterscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE1terms
A mechanical device used to lift personnel or cargo via a cable, typically mounted on helicopters for rescue or recovery operations.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources