Eurocopter Ecureuil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| AS 350 Ecureuil/AStar AS 355 Ecureuil 2/TwinStar |
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 Eurocopter AS-355N Ecureuil 2 at Paris Air Show 2007 |
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| Type | Light utility |
| Manufacturer | Aérospatiale Eurocopter Group |
| Maiden flight | 26 June 1974 |
| Introduced | 1975 |
| Produced | 1975 to date |
| Unit cost | ~US$2.4M (AS350 B2) ~US$2.7M (AS350 B3) ~US$3.9M (AS355 NP VFR) ~US$4.6M (AS355 NP IFR) |
| Variants | Eurocopter Fennec Eurocopter EC 130 |
The Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil ("Squirrel") and AS 355 Ecureuil 2 are a family of light helicopters originally manufactured by Aérospatiale (now part of Eurocopter Group). The AS 350 (marketed as the AStar in North America) is the single-engined version, while the AS 355 (TwinStar) uses two engines. The EC 130B is a recent adaptation of the AS 350 airframe.
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[edit] Design and development
Development began in the early 1970's to replace the Alouette II, and the first flight took place on 27 June 1974. [1] A twin-engined version, known as the Ecureuil 2, Twin Squirrel, or in North America as the Twin Star, first flew on 3 October 1979. Despite the introduction of the EC130, production of the Eurocopter AS 350 and AS 355, and the AS 550 and AS 555 Fennec military versions remains strong.
Both single and twin-engined versions have been built under licence in Brazil.
[edit] Operational history
On May 14, 2005 a standard-configured Ecureuil AS 350B3 piloted by Eurocopter test pilot Didier Delsalle touched down on the top of Mt. Everest, at 8 850 meters (29 035 feet) .[2] This record has been confirmed by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. [3]
[edit] Variants
[edit] Single engine
- AS 350
- Prototype.
- AS 350 Firefighter
- Fire fighting version.
- AS 350B
- Powered by one Turbomeca Arriel 1B engine.
- AS 350B1
- Powered by one Turbomeca Arriel 1D engine.
- AS 350B2
- Higher gross weight version powered by one Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 engine.
- AS 350B3
- High-performance version, is powered by a Turbomeca Arriel 2B engine equipped with a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system. This helicopter is the first ever to land on Mount Everest.
- AS 350BA
- Powered by a Turbomeca Arriel 1B engine and fitted with wider chord main rotor blades.
- AS 350BB
- Powered by a derated Turbomeca Arriel engine to improve the helicopters life cycle.
-
- Eurocopter Squirrel HT.1
- Military version of the AS 350BB for the British RAF as a training helicopter.
- Eurocopter Squirrel HT.2
- Military version of the AS 350BB for the British Army Air Corps as a training helicopter.
- AS 350C
- Powered by one Lycoming LTS-101-600A2 engine for the North American market as the AStar.
- AS 350D
- Powered by one Lycoming LTS-101 engine for the North American market as the AStar.
- AS 350L2
- Military version, powered by a 546-kW (732-shp) Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 turboshaft engine.
- HB 350B Esquilo
- Unarmed military version for the Brazilian Air Force. Brazilian designations CH-50 and TH-50. Built under licence by Helibras in Brazil.
- HB 350B1 Esquilo
- Unarmed military version for the Brazilian Navy. Brazilian designation UH-12. Built under licence by Helibras in Brazil.
- HB 350L1
- Armed military version for the Brazilian Army. Brazilian designation HA-1. Built under licence by Helibas in Brazil.
[edit] Twin engine
- AS 355
- Prototype known as Ecureuil 2 or Twin Squirrel.
- AS 355E
- Initial production version, powered by two Allison 250 turboshaft engines. Known as the Twin Star in the United States and Canada.
- AS 355F
- Improved version, fitted with improved rotor blades and systems.
- AS 355F1
- Powered by the Allison C20F engine.
- AS 355F2
- Powered by the Allison C20F engine with uprated engine and transmission for M.T.O.W (2540 kg's) over the F1 series (2400kg's) and hydraulic accumulator for better tail rotor control.
- AS 355M2
- Armed version.
- AS 355N Ecureuil 2
- Version fitted with two Turbomeca Arrius 1A engines and a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system for better M.T.O.W (2600kg's) and better single engine performance. Known as the Twin Star in the United States.
- AS 355NP
- Introduced in 2007, this version is fitted with two Turbomeca Arrius 1A1 turboshaft engines and a new AS 350B3-based main gearbox, increasing maximum take-off weight to 2,800kg.[4]
- HB.355F Ecureuil 2
- Licence built in Brazil by Helibras.
- HB.355N Ecureuil 2
- Licence built in Brazil by Helibras.
[edit] Aftermarket conversions
- Soloy Super D
- AS350BA powered by an LTS101-600A-3A engine.
- Soloy Super D2
- AS350B2 powered by an LTS101-700D-2 engine.
- Heli-Lynx 350FX1
- AS350BA powered by an LTS101-600A-3A engine.
- Heli-Lynx 350FX2
- AS350BA or AS350B2 powered by an LTS101-700D-2 engine.
- Otech AS350BA+
- AS350BA powered by an LTS101-600A-3A engine [5].
- Heli-Lynx 355FX1
- Powered by the Allison C20F engine. FAA, TC, and EASA approved.
- Heli-Lynx 355FX2
- Powered by the Allison C20F engine. FAA,TC and EASA approved.
- Heli-Lynx 355FX2R
- Powered by the Allison C20R engine. FAA and TC approved.
- Starflex AS355F1R
- AS355F1 powered by the Allison C20R engine. FAA, TC and EASA approved.
- Starflex AS355F2R
- AS355F2 Powered by the Allison C20R engine with optimised tail rotor blades. FAA, TC and EASA approved.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Military operators
- Australian Army
- Royal Australian Air Force
- Royal Australian Navy, Fleet Air Arm (RAN)
- No. 723 Squadron RAN
- also as variant Changhe Z-11
Comoros
Denmark
Djibouti
Ecuador
France
Gabon
Guinea
Jamaica
Malawi
Malaysia
Mali
Mauritius
Mexico
Morocco
Nepal
Paraguay
Peru
Rwanda
Singapore
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
- 38 AS 350BB helicopters in service with FB Heliservices for the Ministry of Defence's Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury for training all British Armed Forces helicopter pilots.[6]
[edit] Law Enforcement operators
- Flugpolizei (Ministry of Interior)[7] operates five AS 350 B1, two AS 355 F2, and two AS 355 N.
- Federal Police
- Brazilian Federal Police
- Brazilian Military Police
- Goiás Military Police [8]
- Netherlands Coast Guard for use at Curacao (Netherlands Antilles)
- New Zealand Police Air Support "Eagle Unit"
- South African Police Service Air Wing operates 11 AS350B3s.
- Anaheim Police Department
- Baltimore County Police Department recently purchased three Eurocopter AS350B3 helicopters.
- California Highway Patrol operate several AS350B3 helicopters.
- East Bay Regional Park Police operate 2 AS350B1 helicopters
- Los Angeles Police Department operates 14 AS350B2 helicopters.[9]
- Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates 7 AS350B2 helicopters.
- Orange County, CA Sheriff's Department operates 2 AS350B2 helicopters.
- Massachusetts State Police operates 5 turbine powered AS355F Twinstar helicopters
- Miami-Dade Police Department
- Ontario, CA Police Department operates 1 AS350B2 helicopters.
- Riverside County Sheriff's Department operate several AS350B3 helicopters.
- Citrus County Sheriff's Department operates a single AS350B3 helicopter.
- San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department operates 6 AS350B3 helicopters
- San Diego Police Department operates several AS350 helicopters.
- Suffolk County Police Department operates 1 Eurocopter EC145 and 2 Eurocopter AS-350B2 helicopters.
- Texas Department of Public Safety operates three AS350B3 helicopters.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operate several AS350B2 and AS350B3 helicopters.
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency operate a AS355F
[edit] Civilian operators
- Australian Helicopters operates transfers from Gladstone, Queensland to Heron Island.
- The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service operates the Eurocopter AS-350 as a Life Saver helicopter for emergencies and beach patrols in South Australia, the Gold Coast and Caloundra.
- The Australian Antarctic Division uses the Eurocopter AS-350 for intra-continental air operations in Antarctica.
- CHC Helicopter Corporation
- 3 AS350B in service with Hungarian Air Ambulance Service, all of them received general overhaul in 2005-2007.[10]
- Iranian helicopter service company (IHSC)
- 1 AS350B2 is operated by Northflight, also do they have one more on its way.
- Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority
[edit] Accidents and incidents
On 14 January 1986, French singer and songwriter Daniel Balavoine and Thierry Sabine, founder of the Dakar Rally, crashed into a dune during a sandstorm in Mali.
On 23 September 1995, an AS 350BA belonging to American Eurocopter of Grand Prairie, Texas, crashed into Crater Lake in Oregon. Killed were pilot George W. Causey, 52, of Enumclaw, Wash., and Edward Tulleners Jr., 45, of West Linn. Though the wreckage of the helicopter was located, it has not been recovered due to the extreme depth and possible environmental impact.
On 22 October 1996, Chelsea Football Club Vice Chairman Matthew Harding together with five companions were killed when their AS 355F1 Squirrel, registration G-CFLT, crashed near Middlewich, Cheshire.[11]
On 27 July 2007, two AS 350's collided in mid-air while reporting a police pursuit.The two helicopters were part of KNXV-TV and KTVK television stations in Phoenix, Arizona. Four crew members were killed by this accident.[12]
On 15 September 2007, former World Rally Championship driver Colin McRae and three passengers were killed when his AS350B2 Squirrel,[13] which he was piloting, crashed near Lanark, Scotland.[14][15].
On 24 May 2008, an AS 350 crashed on the west end of Catalina Island, killing the pilot, Emeric Maillet, and two passengers along with critically injuring three other passengers.[16][17][18]
[edit] Specifications (AS350B3)
Data from {Original Ecureuil article}
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 6
- Length: 12.94 m (42.46 ft)
- Rotor diameter: 10.69 m (35.06 ft)
- Height: 3.14 m (10.96 ft)
- Empty weight: 1,232 kg (2,917 lbs)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,250 kg (4,960 lbs)
- Powerplant: 1× Turbomeca Arriel 2B turboshaft, 632 kW (847 shp)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 287 km/h (155 knots, 178 mph)
- Cruise speed: 259 km/h (140 knots, 161 mph - Fast cruise (120 knots normal cruise speed).)
- Range: 652 km (352 nm, 405 mi)
- Service ceiling 5,280 m (17,323 ft)
- Rate of climb: 10.3 m/s (2,028 ft/min)
[edit] References
- ^ http://62.160.110.229/jrotor/73/latinamerica.html#I0000f69b
- ^ http://www.everestnews.com/stories2005/everestcopter05272005.htm
- ^ Rotorcraft World Records [1]
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - Eurocopter Upgrades Its Most Affordable Twin, The AS355 Ecureuil/TwinStar
- ^ Reyno, Mike, "Power Play", Vertical December 2006
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - FB Heliservices Ltd. Clocks Up 250,000 Flight Hours With Eurocopter AS350 BB ‘Squirrel’ Fleet As Defence Helicopter Flying School Celebrates 10th Anniversary
- ^ Flugpolizei Website (German!)
- ^ Polícia Militar de Goiás website
- ^ LAPD Standardizes AS350B2s With Sagem Cockpit
- ^ OMSz Légimentõ Kht
- ^ "Pilot disorientated on impact", BBC News. Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
- ^ http://www.abc15.com/content/aboutus/bios/story.aspx?content_id=cbbf03e0-247b-4b74-be7a-8c199c50d80d
- ^ Civil Aviation Authority
- ^ "Colin McRae feared dead in helicopter crash - police", Yahoo! News/AFP. Retrieved on 2007-09-16.
- ^ "Rally ace Colin McRae dies in helicopter crash", The Scotsman. Retrieved on 2007-09-16.
- ^ California in Brief - Los Angeles Times
- ^ 3 killed, 3 hurt in helicopter crash on Catalina Island - Los Angeles Times
- ^ Popular Teacher Killed in Catalina Copter Crash | News | KTLA The CW | Where Los Angeles Lives
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
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