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Bell 206 JetRanger III ZK-IOI

The Bell 206B JetRanger III c/n 3060 had a date of manufacture of 18-06-1980 and was listed as N5744C to Bell Helicopter Textron of Fort Worth Texas the same month.
It effectively had only one operator in the States before export to NZ.
This was Monmouth County of Freehold, New Jersey from 10-12-1980 who used it in the Ag and pest control role fitted with a Isolair Dry Spreader attached on each side.
Pic below shows N5744C on 09-05-2004 with Spreader gear and with Monmouth logo on fuselage. Horizon Helicopters Ltd of Rangiora purchased it and it was registered to them in the US on 13-11-2014.
It came to NZ with only around 2250 airframe hours.
The US registration was cancelled on 18-02-2015 for it to become ZK-IOI on the following day. It is seen above without markings at Nelson.
And below as seen at Motueka. It is registered to Horizon Helicopters Ltd and will be operating under the "Top Of The South Helicopters" name. Thanks to Alex Gillatt.

Posted by Blue Bus at 12:38