THE INTRODUCTION TO THE

JetRanger by Andy Aastad

B
efore 1967 piston-powered helicopters dominated Hughes finally won the competition in the Spring of 1965.
the U.S. civil/commercial market. Based on Winning the contract resulted in the eventual production
aerospace facts and figures, total production of civil/ of 1,400 OH-6 helicopters for the Army in a five-year
commercial helicopters by U.S. manufacturers was about period ending in 1970. Of greater significance, however,
4,000 units before 1967. In the same period, production was the introduction of the three new turbine helicopters
of military helicopters reported by the Department of to the civil market.
Defense (DOD) was 13,517 units, again mostly piston Despite the prospect of a new and potentially
helicopters. In the commercial market Bell Helicopter substantial market, Bell was faced with a problem – what
accounted for about one-third of the total followed by the was the future commercial potential of the OH-4A in
Hiller UH-12 series, the Hughes 269 series, the Brantly competition with the civil models of Hughes and Hiller
B2B, and the Enstrom F-28. It was the heyday for piston called the 369 and the 1100? The OH-4A, nicknamed the
helicopters. However, 1977 was a turning point. The “Ugly Duckling,” did not promise optimistic expectations
make-up of the U.S. civil helicopter fleet was about to and probably would not achieve acceptable levels of
experience a major change. success in the civil market competing against Hughes and
To back up a little, on May 19, 1961 the U.S. Army Hiller.
announced that Bell’s OH-4A, Hughes OH-6A and So, the big question to be resolved was what to do
Hiller’s OH-5A were winners of the four-place turbine- about it. Several articles in the past were written about
powered “Light Observation Helicopter (LOH)” design Bell’s solution to the problem, but probably John Olcott
competition. Each manufacturer received a contract wrote the most comprehensive account in the July 1986
worth six million dollars to produce five LOH prototypes. issue of Business and Commercial Aviation and we quote:
continued on page 34

Wooden mockup of the Jet Ranger at Bell Headquarters in 1965.

32 WINTER 2006-2007
 by Matt Zuccaro

WINTER 2006-2007 33
 “In 1963 James Atkins, then In May 1965, Jose and Paul alterations that Bell could have made
Executive Vice President of Bell, Kesling, project engineer for the to create a commercial version of its
but destined to become its president commercial OH-4, were summoned LOH design, enlarging the fuselage
several years later, charged Dwayne to the Bell boardroom for a was probably the most cost effective.
Jose and the company’s 15-man conference with Atkins. Much to Textron, the conglomerate that
commercial marketing department Atkins’ credit, he quickly recognized owns Bell, approved the launch
with proposing what could be done the value in Jose’s reasoning for of the Model 206A, telling Atkins
with the OH-4. Minimum-cost a redesigned fuselage. The very to proceed as if Bell had won the
changes, such as bulging the doors expensive parts of the OH-4 – the LOH contract. A full-scale 206A
of the OH-4 to provide six inches main and tail rotors, the transmission was completed by August 1965.
more shoulder room, were the only and the engine arrangement – were The first unit flew in December of
things to be considered, according to retained in the new design, as was that year, and the helicopter was
Atkins. the primary structure. Therefore, introduced to the public at the
Jose was too good as a marketing engineering costs would be relatively Helicopter Association of America
man to be content with a band- low for the Model 206A, which is (HAA) convention in January 1966.
aid and shoehorn approach to what Bell would call the redesigned Full certification of the Model 206A
commercializing the OH-4, even OH-4. Of all the significant occurred on October 20, 1966,
if the money was not available for
development. Furthermore, when
his marketing team tried the door-
bulging route, the end passengers
were forced to sit with part of their
anatomy hanging over the edge of
their seat when three persons were in
the back. Clearly, a new fuselage was
required, even if there was no money
(let alone authorization) for such
action.
Without the knowledge of
management, Jose and his team
approached two design firms that
were under contract to Bell for work
on the Model 47 and Model 204, and
hired them to develop something for
the OH-4.
Using bootlegged help from the
outside designers, the marketing
department generated a new outline
for the OH-4 fuselage – a teardrop
shape that was somewhat reminiscent
of the Hughes 500’s aft fuselage.
While it looked acceptable, the new
fuselage design would accommodate
no baggage, not even a toolbox. Jose
was not satisfied.
Pondering what to do next, Jose
decided to try his own hand at
creating a solution. On a large three-
view drawing of the teardrop fuselage
pinned to one wall in a drafting
room, he drew lines of what he felt
would be an acceptable fuselage, and
based upon those lines, engineering
estimated that 16 cubic feet of
baggage space — 33 percent more
is found in the average family sedan
— could be made available. A full-
scale wooden mockup was then made
to confirm the value of the newly
proposed shape.

34 WINTER 2006-2007
and customer deliveries began on
January 13, 1967.”
While the challenge of developing
the JetRanger was in process,
Jose held an internal contest for
the purpose of naming the new
aircraft. After sifting through several
suggestions, he selected a few that
were acceptable and arranged a
meeting with President Edwin J.
Ducayet in order to pick the winning
name. Duke, as Ducayet was
affectionately called, reviewed the
selection, thought for a moment and
said, “Why don’t we just call it the
JetRanger?” “Good idea,” said Jose.
The name was the logical successor
to the very popular piston-powered
Ranger the 47-J.
One of the early marketing
initiatives of the JetRanger
was the procurement of option
deposits. Not surprisingly the Bell OH-3 prototype for the Army’s LOH competition was basis for the JetRanger.
activity resulted in a substantial
indication of interest from the the JetRanger has been directed Massachusetts, Washington, Oregon,
civil/commercial market. The first to Jose and his marketing team, it California, and Arizona. And in
deposit received was from Harry couldn’t have been done without Canada it will stop in Ontario,
Holly who for years had operated the enthusiastic support of the flight Quebec, Alberta, and British
his own Bell 47-G2 helicopter on and service departments. The initial Columbia.”
floats. Harry was the founder of the demonstration tour in 1966 was an There were many follow-on
Hollymatic Company in Chicago. early example of their participation flight demonstrations supported by
He was visibly excited about the as reported by “Bell Helicopter several additional Bell pilots and
opportunity of a demonstration ride News” in the April 1966 issue as tech reps during the introduction
in the new JetRanger prototype follows: phase of the JetRanger, which
being introduced for the first time at “The Bell JetRanger, new turbine- played an important role in the
the January 1966 HAA convention powered commercial helicopter, will initial acceptance of the aircraft.
at the Six Flags Hotel Complex in begin a coast-to-coast demonstration Probably even more important for
Arlington, Texas. Harry, along with tour Sunday, April 17. acceptance of the JetRanger was
his son and his pilot Chuck Setzer, The five-place ship is scheduled Bell’s reputation for responsive
were first in line on that cold January to visit 16 states, the District of customer service, product support,
morning, which saw four inches Columbia and four Canadian flight training, and ground school.
of snow for the demonstration. provinces on its 103-day tour. Confidence in Bell support was the
Nonetheless, they took off with It is scheduled to leave from the solid foundation for the positive
Bell test pilot Dick Schelander at Hurst plant. It will return there on credibility of a new technology
the controls. Beautiful take off but July 30th. helicopter.
almost immediately after reaching A team of company sales, pilots As stated earlier, the marketing
an altitude of about 500 feet the and technical representatives will team led by Dwayne Jose consisted
demonstrator began a smooth decent accompany the ship throughout the of about 15 personnel in the home
in autorotation to a nearby open tour. They are: Andreas Aastad, office. However, the direct sales team
field – an engine problem. Expecting JetRanger sales specialist; Fred also had about 15 or 16 people, which
to hear the worst when the Holly Maupin, technical representative, included an eastern and western
group returned, we were pleasantly and Jack Bell and Ned Gilliand, division for North America and an
surprised at their enthusiastic pilots. Company regional sales international sales group of about
acceptance of the JetRanger because representatives will supplement five people. So, altogether the total
of its “wonderful autorotation them at various stops. The civil/commercial team in 1966 added
capability.” His deposit and flight JetRanger will make stops in Texas, up to about 30 to 32 players. This was
demonstration led to the first Louisiana, Tennessee, Missouri, certainly a very small marketing team
delivery in 1967. Illinois, Michigan, District of by today’s standards.
Although much of the credit for Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, Bell’s approach to sales in the
a successful marketing program of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, early days was a factory direct

36 WINTER 2006-2007
system initiated probably by its close OH-4A 5 Light Observation Helicopter 1962
relationship with its commercial by Matt Zuccaro
206A 1521 Jet Ranger Civil 1966
operators, the dominant market in
the 1950’s. Thus, sales people were OH-58A 2370 Kiowa U.S. Army 1968
company employees responsible TH-57A 180 Sea Ranger U.S. Navy 1968
for contact with Bell operators in 206B 2876 Jet Ranger II Civil 1971
addition to potential new owners. 206L1 783 Long Ranger Civil 1973
“The Bell Man,” as they were
OH-58D 40 Kiowa Austria 1976
once called, provided product
information, application assistance, 206L3 806 Long Ranger Civil 1982
flight demonstrations, and responsive 406CS 15 Combat Scout Military 1983
attention to an avalanche of TH-67A 175 Creek U.S. Army 1993
customer concerns and questions
206L4 292 Long Ranger Civil 1993
about an unproven aircraft. They
paved the way for the introduction 206LT 12 Twin Ranger Civil 1994
of the JetRanger and the ensuing 407 660 Civil 1994
stream of option deposits and orders
playing a key role in the overall Bell to the commercial sales group in the 206 in its various designations is
team effort. 1962 as the Supervisor of Sales shown in the table above.
While everyone on the Bell team Administration. Pat was an energetic, Like the legendary Energizer
played their position skillfully in charismatic guy who got the job done Bunny, the 206 series helicopters
the introduction of the JetRanger, with a smile. His substantial value will keep going on and on. It will
there were several individuals whose to the company was later recognized most likely reach the enviable
performance added significantly to with a promotion to vice president. production level of 10,000 helicopters
the program success. Pat McGuire Pat passed away early in 2006 and left sometime in the near future. What
was one who deserves special a legacy of good will and efficiency. a tremendous accomplishment for
recognition. His tireless efforts as Bell’s entry in the 1962 LOH Dwayne Jose and the Bell Helicopter
an administrator and facilitator competition was transformed from Team.
remained under the radar, but the “Ugly Duckling” loser into the
his work was instrumental in the very stylish and popular JetRanger,
effective functioning with the several which captured the attention of both Andy Aastad is the former editor of the
company initiatives involved. civil and military markets. Over the Helicopter Market Letters and currently
Pat transferred from Buffalo when past 40 years the success of the 206 a market consultant to the helicopter
Bell moved its helicopter division series has been spectacular resulting industry. He can be reached at
to Fort Worth. He moved from in the production of 9,735 helicopters 252-635-5015 or aastad@[Link].
the military contracts department as of December 31, 2005. Growth of

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