The Bell 206LT TwinRanger & Tridair Gemini ST

Powerplants

Two 335kW (450shp) takeoff rated Allison 250C20R turboshafts, driving a two blade main rotor and two blade tail rotor.

Performance

206LT - Max cruising speed 217km/h (117kt), economical cruising speed 200km/h (108kt). Service ceiling 10,000ft. Hovering ceiling in ground effect 10,000ft, out of ground effect 6900ft. Range with max fuel and no reserves at long range cruising speed 463km (250nm). 206L3ST - Max cruising speed 217km/h (117kt). Initial rate of climb 1550ft/min. Service ceiling 20,000ft. Hovering ceiling in ground effect 15,800ft. Range with max payload and max internal fuel 643km (347nm).

Weights

206LT - Standard empty 1246kg (2748lb), max takeoff 2018kg (4450lb), or 2064kg (4550lb) with an external sling load. 206L3ST - Empty 1175kg (2590lb), max takeoff 1928kg (4250lb).

Dimensions

Main rotor diameter 11.28m (37ft 0in), length overall 13.02m (42ft 9in), fuselage length 9.81m (32ft 3in), height 3.14m (10ft 4in). Main rotor disc area 99.9m2 (1075.2sq ft).

Capacity

Typical seating for seven, including pilot, in three rows (2+2+3). Executive configuration has club seating for four in main cabin.

Production

Conversions to Gemini ST configuration commenced in early 1994. Deliveries of new build 206LTs began in early 1994. Only 13 have been built but it remains available to order.

Type

Twin engine light utility helicopters

History

Bell's 206LT TwinRanger, is, as its name suggests, a new build twin engined development of the 206L LongRanger, while Tridair helicopters in the USA offers its twin engine Gemini ST conversion for existing LongRangers.

The name TwinRanger predates the current 206LT to the mid 1980s when Bell first looked at developing twin engine version of the LongRanger. The Model 400 TwinRanger did fly (maiden flight was on April 4 1984) and it featured two Allison 250 turboshafts, the four blade main rotor developed for the military Bell 406/OH58 Kiowa and a reprofiled fuselage, but development was later suspended.

The current 206LT TwinRanger is based on Tridair Helicopters' Gemini ST conversion program. Tridair announced it was working on a twin engine conversion of the LongRanger in 1989, and the prototype flew for the first time on January 16 1991. Full FAA certification was awarded in November and covers the conversion of LongRanger 206L1s, L3s and L4s to Gemini ST configuration.

In mid 1994 the Gemini ST made history when it was certificated as the first Single/Twin aircraft, allowing it to operate either as a single or twin engine aircraft throughout all phases of flight. This unique certification allows it to operate with a single engine for maximum economy (for ferrying etc), with the extra redundancy and performance of a twin available when required.

Bell's 206LT TwinRanger is a new build production model equivalent to Tridair's Gemini ST and based on the LongRanger IV. The first example was delivered in January 1994. The TwinRanger will be replaced by the 427 which is currently under development.

The Bell 206LT TwinRanger & Tridair Gemini ST

Powerplants

Two 335kW (450shp) takeoff rated Allison 250C20R turboshafts, driving a two blade main rotor and two blade tail rotor.

Performance

206LT - Max cruising speed 217km/h (117kt), economical cruising speed 200km/h (108kt). Service ceiling 10,000ft. Hovering ceiling in ground effect 10,000ft, out of ground effect 6900ft. Range with max fuel and no reserves at long range cruising speed 463km (250nm). 206L3ST - Max cruising speed 217km/h (117kt). Initial rate of climb 1550ft/min. Service ceiling 20,000ft. Hovering ceiling in ground effect 15,800ft. Range with max payload and max internal fuel 643km (347nm).

Weights

206LT - Standard empty 1246kg (2748lb), max takeoff 2018kg (4450lb), or 2064kg (4550lb) with an external sling load. 206L3ST - Empty 1175kg (2590lb), max takeoff 1928kg (4250lb).

Dimensions

Main rotor diameter 11.28m (37ft 0in), length overall 13.02m (42ft 9in), fuselage length 9.81m (32ft 3in), height 3.14m (10ft 4in). Main rotor disc area 99.9m2 (1075.2sq ft).

Capacity

Typical seating for seven, including pilot, in three rows (2+2+3). Executive configuration has club seating for four in main cabin.

Production

Conversions to Gemini ST configuration commenced in early 1994. Deliveries of new build 206LTs began in early 1994. Only 13 have been built but it remains available to order.

Type

Twin engine light utility helicopters

History

Bell's 206LT TwinRanger, is, as its name suggests, a new build twin engined development of the 206L LongRanger, while Tridair helicopters in the USA offers its twin engine Gemini ST conversion for existing LongRangers.

The name TwinRanger predates the current 206LT to the mid 1980s when Bell first looked at developing twin engine version of the LongRanger. The Model 400 TwinRanger did fly (maiden flight was on April 4 1984) and it featured two Allison 250 turboshafts, the four blade main rotor developed for the military Bell 406/OH58 Kiowa and a reprofiled fuselage, but development was later suspended.

The current 206LT TwinRanger is based on Tridair Helicopters' Gemini ST conversion program. Tridair announced it was working on a twin engine conversion of the LongRanger in 1989, and the prototype flew for the first time on January 16 1991. Full FAA certification was awarded in November and covers the conversion of LongRanger 206L1s, L3s and L4s to Gemini ST configuration.

In mid 1994 the Gemini ST made history when it was certificated as the first Single/Twin aircraft, allowing it to operate either as a single or twin engine aircraft throughout all phases of flight. This unique certification allows it to operate with a single engine for maximum economy (for ferrying etc), with the extra redundancy and performance of a twin available when required.

Bell's 206LT TwinRanger is a new build production model equivalent to Tridair's Gemini ST and based on the LongRanger IV. The first example was delivered in January 1994. The TwinRanger will be replaced by the 427 which is currently under development.

N-219 Generasi terbaru pesawat produksi PT Dirgantara Indonesia

BeritaUnik.net – Saat ini, penerbangan perintis di beberapa wilayah Nusantara seperti Papua masih menggunakan pesawat-pesawat produksi lama, seperti Twin Otter. Beberapa unit yang ada telah tidak layak pakai sehingga diperlukan pesawat yang lebih modern.
Karenanya, sejak tahun 2006, PT Dirgantara Indonesia mengembangkan pesawat N219 berkapasitas 19 orang untuk menggantikan peran pesawat perintis yang ada sekarang. Saat ini, uji aerodinamika pesawat tersebut telah dituntaskan.
N-219 Generasi terbaru pesawat produksi PT Dirgantara Indonesia
“Pengembangan pesawat jenis ini biasanya memakan waktu 3 tahun. Namun, kita mungkin akan selesaikan 2-2,5 tahun,” kata Andi Alisjahbana, Direktur Aerostruktur PT Dirgantara Indonesia, Selasa (28/12/2010) di Jakarta. Jadi, tahun 2013, pesawat mungkin sudah bisa diluncurkan.
Agar tidak mengalami kegagalan seperti pesawat CN 250, pihak PTDI akan memproduksi pesawat berdasarkan order. “Kami akan buat 25 unit dulu nantinya. Kami akan mengupayakan seluruhnya terjual dahulu,” kata Andi. Pembuatan sejumlah unit memerlukan dana sekitar Rp 1 triliun. Jumlah ini menurut Andi cukup minim untuk membuat pesawat. Ia menargetkan, sejumlah pesawat akan dibeli oleh pemerintah daerah.
Andi juga mengatakan, spesifikasi pesawat N219 dirancang sesuai dengan kondisi geografis Indonesia. Pesawat ini mampu mendarat di landasan yang pendek sehingga bisa diaplikasikan di wilayah terpencil dengan lahan terbatas. “Pesawat ini juga dirancang bisa membawa bahan bakar tambahan. Kita menyadari bahwa tidak setiap daerah memiliki tempat pengisian bahan bakar,” demikian Andi mengungkapkan kelebihan pesawat N219.
Sementara itu, Budi Santoso selaku Direktur Utama PT Dirgantara Indonesia mengatakan bahwa pengembangan pesawat ini didasarkan pada karakteristik geografis Indonesia. “Kondisi geografis kita berbeda dengan negara lain. Kita harus punya solusi sendiri,” katanya. Bagi Budi, pengembangan pesawat kecil yang mampu menjangkau wilayah terpencil sangat pas. “Banyak wilayah Indonesia yang tak mudah dijangkau dengan transportasi darat. Pesawat perintis bisa menjadi solusi,” paparnya.
Pesawat N219 memiliki potensi besar untuk dipasarkan ke daerah-daerah seperti Sumatera dan Papua. Pesawat ini juga ditargetkan bisa dipasarkan ke negara lain yang masih membutuhkan, misalnya negara-negara di Afrika.

Indonesia 'berminat membeli pesawat tempur Inggris'

Surat kabar Inggris The Times melaporkan Indonesia secara informal melobi Inggris mengenai kemungkinan membeli sampai 24 unit pesawat jet multi-tempur Eurofighter Typhoon.

Penjualan itu, bila terlaksana, akan bernilai sekitar £5 miliar atau hampir Rp71 triliun.

Secara terpisah, perusahaan peralatan militer Inggris BAE Systems menawarkan untuk meremajakan pesawat-pesawat jet Hawk yang sudah dimiliki Indonesia.
Kepala Biro Humas Kementerian Pertahanan Brigjen I Wayan Midhio, membenarkan bahwa memang ada pembicaraan mengenai peremajaan pesawat Hawk, namun membantah ada rencana pembelian pesawat multi-tempur Eurofighter Typhoon.
"TNI AU sedang membahas mengenai Eurocopter, helikopter Eropa. Tetapi masih dievaluasi untuk dibahas di tingkat TNI AU, belum dibahas di kementrian (pertahanan)," kata Wayan Midhio.

Beragam jenis

Indonesia berminat membeli pesawat tempur Inggris

Indonesia dilaporkan berminat membeli 24 pesawat jet multi-tempur Eurofighter Typhoon dari Inggris. Peneliti CSIS Evan Laksamana berbicara kepada Emilda Rosen.

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Saat ini Indonesia memiliki beragam jenis pesawat tempur, diantaranya pesawat Hawk buatan Inggris, F-16 buatan Amerika dan pesawat Sukhoi buatan Rusia.
Peneliti CSIS urusan pertahanan Evan Laksamana mengatakan, keragaman ini merupakan upaya diversifikasi pemerintah terhadap peralatan pertahanan, karena Indonesia beberapa kali dikenakan embargo pembelian peralatan dari negara-negara Barat seperti Amerika dan Inggris.
Pemerintah Inggris di bawah Partai Buruh pada tahun 1999 melarang penjualan peralatan pertahanan atas dugaan pesawat-pesawat pengebom buatan Inggris digunakan untuk mengebom warga sipil di Timor Timur, Papua dan Aceh.
Pada tahun yang sama Kongres Amerika menerapkan pelarangan penjualan senjata kepada Indonesia atas alasan serupa, yang baru dicabut pada tahun 2005.
Namun Evan Laksamana melihat, upaya diversifikasi pembelian senjata yang tidak dibarengi rencana jangka panjang akan menjadi masalah di kemudian hari.
"Dari segi sistemnya, dari segi maintenance, dari segi biaya yang harus dikeluarkan untuk melatih orang-orang yang sama. Dalam situasi darurat misalnya, belum tentu orang yang sudah dilatih untuk menerbangkan Sukhoi bisa menerbangkan Typhoon. Jadi biaya yang dikeluarkan akan lebih banyak,"

Boeing Rilis Pesawat Jumbo Terbaru Boeing 747-8

Washington - Raksasa pesawat terbang Boeing merilis pesawat jumbo terbaru Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental yang menjanjikan pengalaman kemewahan bagi para penumpang. Pesawat dengan 467 kursi penumpang tersebut diluncurkan dengan harapan untuk menghidupkan kembali daya tarik saat kelahiran pertama pesawat Boeing 747 pada 42 tahun silam.

Menurut pihak Boeing, seperti diberitakan kantor berita AFP, Senin (14/2/2011), pesawat ini akan menggunakan lebih sedikit bahan bakar dan memberikan kenyamanan lebih bagi para penumpang dibandingkan versi Boeing sebelumnya. Pesawat dengan panjang lebih dari 76 meter ini akan menjadi pesawat penumpang terpanjang di dunia. Pesawat yang menampilkan teknologi-teknologi terbaru ini diharapkan untuk menyaingi pesawat rival, Airbus A380.

Peluncuran model Boeing terbaru ini dilakukan di depan sekitar 10 ribu orang yang menghadiri acara tersebut yang digelar di fasilitas produksi Boeing di Everett, Washington, AS.

Acara yang digelar pada Minggu, 13 Februari pagi waktu setempat tersebut, dihadiri para pegawai Boeing beserta keluarga mereka serta para tamu undangan yang merupakan orang-orang penting dari sejumlah industri.

Pesawat ini panjangnya 5,8 meter lebih panjang dari seri terdahulu 747-400, sehingga menjadikan Boeing 747-8 ini sebagai pesawat penumpang terpanjang di dunia saat ini. Pesawat jumbo dengan kabin dua lantai ini tercatat pada harga US$ 317,5 juta.

Pihak Boeing menyatakan, pesawat 747-8 baru akan pertama kali digunakan oleh publik setelah dikirimkan pada maskapai penerbangan Jerman, Lufthansa pada tahun 2012 mendatang.

NASA Aircraft Giant Asteroid Approach

                                                   Asteroid Vesta (image: universetoday.com)

               CALIFORNIA - unmanned spacecraft from NASA named Dawn, has entered the orbit of Vesta, one of the largest asteroids in the solar system, the space agency said the United States (U.S.) is.
             As quoted by AFP on Monday (7/18/2011), Dawn is expected to get close up to a distance of 16 thousand kilometers of Vesta, to study the largest asteroid's surface.
            It took up to four years to reach this point, "said Robert Mase, manager of the project is valued at USD466 at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California.
            Later, after observing for a year at Vesta, Dawn will move the aircraft to new destinations namely the minor planet Ceres, in July 2012. "With the mission, the Dawn will be the first unmanned spacecraft on the two objects orbiting the solar system other than Earth," said the official NASA.
            The main purpose of the mission eight years conducted by Dawn was to study and compare the asteroid Vesta with the dwarf planet Ceres, which NASA says will uncover the early history of solar system formation.
            "Equipment at Dawn will measure the composition, topography and surface texture. Furthermore, the Dawn spacecraft will also measure the power of gravity of Vesta and Ceres, to learn more about its internal structure, "explains the NASA.
           Dawn was first launched in 2007, has a gamma ray tool and neutron detectors, which will collect information on cosmic rays when the aircraft is approaching an object. (ATA)

Casa 212 Black Box Found

TEMPO Interactive, Medan - National SAR Agency Chief Marshal Air Marshal TNI Daryatmo admit a black box (black box) planes Casa 212-200 PK-TLF-owned airline PT Buana Nusantara Air has been found. The box was found and rescue team to evacuate victims of the plane.

"Black Box has taken the SAR team," said Daryatmo, Sunday, October 2, 2011. Furthermore, the black box was handed over to officials of the National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC). Tim NTSC since yesterday has been in post Basarnas in District Bahorok, Langkat, North Sumatra.

Head of Medan Basarnas Tugiman Hadi added, there were seven personnel from the NTSC that has arrived at the post Basarnas. "Two people from the NTSC had to go to the crash site," said Hadi. They, further Hadi, will take the black box and other devices that are considered important in the investigation.

Aircraft Casa 212-200 PK-TLF, Thursday, September 29, 2011 and had an accident on the way to Airport Kutacane Alas Leuser, Southeast Aceh Regency. The plane owned airline PT Buana Nusantara Air is taking off from Polonia Airport at 7:28 pm. But until around 8:03 pm, never landed in the Airport Alas Leuser. At around 9:30 pm the plane crashed in a forest known Gulus Tenebrous Mountain, Langkat.