The Bell TH-57 Sea Ranger is a military training helicopter used by the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. It is a variant of the Bell 206 Jet Ranger, a popular civilian helicopter.
Development
PENSACOLA, Fla. (Feb. 23, 2017) Two U.S. Navy TH-57C Sea Ranger helicopters conduct a formation training flight over Pensacola Beach, Fla. The aircraft are assigned to Training Air Wing 5 aboard Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Florida. Training Air Wing 5 conducts primary, intermediate, and advanced undergraduate flight training for the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and select international military partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Antonio More)
The TH-57 was developed in the late 1960s in response to a U.S. Navy requirement for a new training helicopter. The Navy selected the Bell 206 Jet Ranger, and the TH-57 designation was assigned to the military version.
Operational history
The TH-57 has been in service with the U.S. military since 1968. It is the primary helicopter used for training Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard helicopter pilots. The TH-57 is also used for photo, chase, and utility missions.
Design
The TH-57 is a single-engine, turbine-powered helicopter with a four-blade main rotor and a two-blade tail rotor. It has a skid landing gear and can accommodate up to five people, including the pilot, instructor, and three passengers.
Avionics
The TH-57 is equipped with a variety of avionics, including a radio, a navigation system, and an autopilot. It is also equipped with instrument flight rules (IFR) equipment, which allows it to be flown in conditions of low visibility.
Variants
There are two main variants of the TH-57:
- TH-57A: The original variant of the TH-57.
- TH-57B: An updated variant of the TH-57 with a more powerful engine and improved avionics.
Operators
The TH-57 is operated by the following organizations:
- United States Navy
- United States Marine Corps
- United States Coast Guard
Future
The TH-57 is expected to remain in service with the U.S. military for many years to come. The Navy is currently upgrading its fleet of TH-57B helicopters with new avionics and engines.
Specifications
- Crew: 1 pilot, 1 instructor, 3 passengers
- Length: 31 ft (9.4 m)
- Height: 10 ft (3.0 m)
- Max speed: 140 knots (259 km/h)
- Range: 315 mi (507 km)
- Engine: 1 × Allison 250-C20B turbofan engine
- Power: 420 shp (310 kW)
References
- Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) fact sheet: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vj4DMWAGxcM
- Bell Helicopter Textron website: https://www.navair.navy.mil/product/TH-57
- Department of Defense (DoD) fact sheet: https://www.navair.navy.mil/product/TH-57