continental copters

[kenneth]

From wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Copters

Continental Copters was a US helicopter remanufacturer established by John L Scott in Fort Worth, Texas in 1959. The company's most significant product was the remanufacturing of Bell 47 airframes as specialised, single-seat agricultural aircraft as the El Tomcat. Continental Copters also assembled stock Bell 47s from spare parts.

In the late 1970s, Continental worked on single-seat agricultural versions of the Bell 204 and 206, the latter flying as the Jet-Cat.

now i am particularly interested in the Bell 204 and Bell 206 conversions; searching the net yielded nothing and no images;

is there any reader who can share some more knowledge and pictures?

regards

 

[Stargazer]

El Tomcat Mk. II Single-seat crop-sprayer version of Bell 47G-2 with 200-265hp Franklin 6V4 engine (1959).
El Tomcat Mk. III Improved version of Mk. II. No details (1965).
El Tomcat Mk. IIIA Version powered by Franklin 6V4-200, 6V-335, or 6V-350 engines.
El Tomcat Mk. IIIB Version with 235 hp Franklin 6V-350-A engine, modified fiberglass nose, repositioned windscreen, lower cabin roof (1967).
El Tomcat Mk. IIIC Improved version with 200 hp Franklin 6V4-200-C32, 210 hp 6V-335-A, or 235 hp 6V-350-A engines.
El Tomcat Mk. V Version powered by 220 hp Lycoming VO-435-A1A engine (1968).
El Tomcat Mk. 5A Version powered by 260 hp Lycoming VO-435-A1F with a foldable jump-seat.
El Tomcat Mk. 5B Version powered by 265 hp Lycoming VO-435-B1A engine.
El Tomcat Mk. 6B No details.
El Tomcat Mk. 6C No details.
not known Single-seat turbine-powered crop-sprayer version of Bell 204. Apparently not completed, in favor of JC-1A (1977~).
JC-1A Jet-Cat Single-seat turbine-powered crop-sprayer version of Bell JetRanger (1978, 1 produced) [N9097T].

Continental Copters also assembled stock Bell 47s from spare parts. — Existence of a plain "El Tomcat (Mk. I)" prototype is possible (a "Continental Helicopters, Inc. Tomcat" could be it). — No information on what the Mk. IV and Mk. 6A variants were and if they were produced at all.

 

[kenneth]

thanks Skyblazer for your usual informative clarifications especially about the ElTomcat Mk's I and 6. pitty no photograghs exist of the Bell 204 conversion and JC-1A Jet Cat.

i would like to suggest the formation of a new Board to be called Aircraft Rebuilds - the scope of this would be to treat aircraft modification manufacturers such as Continental Copters, On Mark, Soloy, Conroy, Carson, OHA and the like. this topic is rarely treated and it is very important in aviation - just look at the number of STC's issued in the US.

 

[hesham]

And from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1980-1981;

 

[Stargazer]

And from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1980-1981;

Cool! Now we have details on the Mk. 6B (or VI-B), 6C (VI-C) and even the prototype Mk. VI!

 

[kenneth]

thanks hesham

can you please try to find a photo of the Jet Cat JC-1A or the modified Bell 204