My current 206 is the first turbine helicopter I ever flew.... 35 years ago. Seems like only yesterday. It has a great amount of sentimental value to me. And the goal is to keep it flying as original as possible for as long as possible. The very definition of "labor of love."
I've always loved the Jet Ranger series, though not the 505. When at the latest Bell MRO conference I found out that no original Bell employees were asked about the 5050 design. It was a "clean sheet" effort by people who had no loyalty to the design nor suppliers. Seems to me they missed the boat by not making an evolutionary design rather than a revolutionary one.
I'll keep my 206!
Rick