The Bell 206 is one of the most successful and widespread light helicopters, built in some 20 military and civil variants for a total of almost 10,000 aircraft. Its origins can be traced to the OH-4 designed for the US Army for a light, turbine-powered observation helicopter. The result was a simple helicopter, with a two-blade semirigid rotor, skid landing gear and large access doors. When the competition was won by the Hughes OH-6, Bell redesigned the OH-4 for civil use. The new Model 206-A JetRanger flew on 10 January 1966 and sold well. In 1968 various reasons led the US Army to reconsider its choice and to order the Bell 206 in the new OH-58 Kiowa military version, of which over 2,200 were built in four years. The flexibility of the JetRanger led to many applications, from training to medical transportation, from police to aerial filming. The Bell 206 was also built under license by Agusta, in both facilities: Cascina Costa near Varese, and Frosinone. Agusta built about 1,000 AB 206s, including over 260 for the air arms of various Italian armed forces and government agencies, including the Army (with various changes and a taller landing gear to operate from rough fields), Carabinieri, Police and Firefighting corps.
The helicopter on display is an AB-206C-1, c/n 9141, code PS 39, donated to Volandia by 3rd State Police fling group of Bologna in April 2025.
