Bell 206 retractable gear: info please

[Earl of Rochester]

- Unstable Load!

There are doubtless other PPRuNers who shall be able to respond more authoratitively to this question but, during the hey day of the 206 (around the early 80's) Bell toyed with the prospect of fitting retractable undercarriage to this model.

As far as I know only one experimental version was adapted in this way (with fully retractable gear) and there may have been a second offering a tricycle undercarriage although I am not entirely sure about the latter.

Needless to say, neither the tricycle or retractable options went into production. The rationale in the industry at the time (from observers) was that it was an attempt by Bell to boost 206 sales which were feeling the impact of the AS350B.

Rgds

Earl



Not quite the same but retractable nonetheless!
Experimental Bell 209 AH-1