The United States Navy

TH-57 Sea Ranger

Last updated: June 18, 1999

Description: The TH-57 is a derivative of the commercial Bell Jet Ranger 206. Although primarily used for training, these aircraft are also used for photo, chase and utility missions.

Background: The JetRanger was initially designed to compete in a U.S. Army light observation helicopter competition. Bell lost that competition but the 206 was commercially successful. The TH-57 Sea Ranger provides advanced (IFR) training to several hundred aviation students a year at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Florida.
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Point of Contact:
Naval Air Systems Command
Public Affairs Department
47123 Buse Road, Unit IPT
Bldg. 2272, Suite 075
Patuxent River, MD 20670-5440
(301)757-1487

General Characteristics, TH-57 Sea Ranger

Contractor: Bell Helicopter Textron.
Propulsion: One Allison 250-C20BJ turbofan engine.
Lengths: Fuselage - 31 feet (9.44 meters); Rotors turning - 39 feet (11.9 meters)
Height: 10 feet (3.04 meters)
Weight: 1595 pounds (725kg) empty, 3200 pounds (1455 kg) maximum take off
Main Rotor Diameter: 35 feet 4 inches (10.78 meters)
Range: 368 nautical miles (420 statute miles, 676 km)
Ceiling: 18,900 feet (5,761 meters)
Speed: 138 miles (222 km) per hour maximum; 117 miles (188 km) per hour cruising
Crew: One pilot, four students
Armament: None
Date deployed: First flight: 1961; Operational: 1968

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