Bell Bell 206L3

6-occupant turbine helicopter · Private helicopters · in production 1981-1992 · See its reach on the 3D globe

Indicative 1986 market price€803k to €960k

Estimated annual cost at 80 h€188k

Five-year cash outlay€1.81m

Key figures

Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.

Seats	6
Reported payload proxy	450 kg
Reported range	210 nm
Practical planning radius (4 people)	Not used for mission ranking
Cruise speed	110 kt
Runway need	Vertical
Pressurised	No
Fuel	Jet A-1
Fixed annual base	€52k
Direct cost per flight hour	€760

The ownership trade-off

The Bell 206L3 combines 6-seat helicopter capability with about 210 NM reported range and about 110 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.

Cost picture at different usage

40 hours/year: about €157k per year ( €3935 per flight hour all-in)
80 hours/year: about €188k per year ( €2348 per flight hour all-in)
120 hours/year: about €218k per year ( €1818 per flight hour all-in)
180 hours/year: about €264k per year ( €1466 per flight hour all-in)

Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at €125k per year at 80 hours. Condition, engine time remaining and avionics matter more than the year itself, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model.

Where it fits well

110 kt cruise supports efficient local and regional flying.
210 nm reported range is retained for profile context, but PlaneFit does not use it for mission ranking yet.
450 kg reported payload proxy and 6 seats define the cabin context pending source-level normalization.

Limitations to price honestly

The Bell 206L3 combines 6-seat helicopter capability with about 210 NM reported range and about 110 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.
€52k fixed annual planning base before flying a single hour.
Component life and mission-specific landing permissions dominate real-world utility.

Recommended missions

Family and small-group touring with a weight-and-balance check for every trip.
Short and medium regional trips, accepting fuel stops when conditions require.
Recreational, training or personal travel where operating efficiency is more important than airline-like speed.