Eurocopter Colibri
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| EC 120 Colibri HC120 |
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|---|---|
 San Bernardino County Sheriff's EC 120 |
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| Type | Light utility helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Eurocopter Harbin Aviation Industries |
| Unit cost | US $840,000 (1999)[1] |
The Eurocopter EC 120 Colibri (Portuguese Hummingbird) is a 5-seat, single-engine, single main rotor, light helicopter. Jointly designed and developed by Eurocopter, China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), Harbin Aviation Industries (Group) Ltd (HAI) and Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd (STAero) at Eurocopter France's Marignane facility, the EC 120 is assembled by Eurocopter in France and Australia.[1][2] In China, the aircraft is produced by Harbin as the HC120.[3]
Eurocopter has a 61% interest in the project, with CATIC owning 24% and STAero with 15% share.[1]
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[edit] Development
The EC 120 B is mostly built from composite materials and has a fenestron (shrouded) tail rotor, making it a particularly quiet helicopter. It also features crash-resistant seats and a crash-resistant fuel system.
The design of the Colibri's wide cabin (featuring excellent visibility) makes it suitable for wide variety of civilian and parapublic missions, such as utility transport, offshore transport, training, law enforcement, casualty evacuation and corporate transport. In the casualty evacuation role, the helicopter can carry one pilot and one stretcher patient as well as one or two medical attendants. For cargo carrying, the Colibri can carry one pilot plus 2.94 cubic meters of total useful load volume (cabin and hold).
In addition to its civilian roles, the Colibri is also used by the military for training, observation and light utility missions. In the latter role, it can carry a sling load cargo of up to 700 kg.
The EC 120 is an ideal law enforcement helicopter. Due to its light weight and powerful Arrius 2F engine, it is able to carry equipment such as FLIR cameras, spotlights and other useful tools. Some law enforcement agencies using the EC 120 include: US Customs and Border Protection, the Edmonton, Alberta Police Service (AIR-1) and the Calgary Police Service (HAWC 2).
[edit] Operational history
The first EC 120 B was delivered in 1998 and by the end of 2002, Eurocopter had already delivered more than 300 Colibris to various customers.
In 2006, the United States Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection ordered 10 EC120 helicopters, with options for up to 55 which was reported as a total value of US$ 75 million[4]. This would put the unit cost at $ 1.36 million.
[edit] Variants
- EC 120 B
- HC 120 : The HC 120 helicopter trainer is a licensed Chinese built variant of the EC 120 developed by a joint venture between Eurocopter, China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC), and Singapore Technologies Aerospace and manufactured by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (HAMC)
[edit] Operators
- One delivered in 2007 and five on order for the German Federal Police to be used for pilot training.[5]
- As Police Patrol helicopter
- Also used as a light utility helicopter by the Indonesian Air Force
- Two in service with APOORVA Aviation for training of Indian helicopter pilots.[6]
- York Regional Police
- Two in service with Calgary Police Service
- One in service with Edmonton Police Service
- RCMP "E" Division
- Republic of Singapore Air Force Helicopter Trainer.
- Cuerpo Nacional de Policía (National Police)
- Three EC 120s in service with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department and used by its Air Support Bureau to conduct police patrols and supporting Homeland Defense personnel in Sacramento, California.[7]
- Ten EC 120s in service with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, used for low-level surveillance and security patrol of the U.S. border. These helicopters were delivered between 2006 and 2007.[8]
[edit] Specifications (EC 120B)
Data from {name of first source}
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 or 2 pilots
- Capacity: 4 passengers
- Length: 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
- Rotor diameter: 10.0 m (32 ft 10 in)
- Height: 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in)
- Empty weight: 960 kg (2,112 lb)
- Useful load: 755 kg (1,661 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 1,715 kg (3,773 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Turbomeca Arrius 2F turboshaft, 335 kW (450 shp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 280 km/h (150 knots, 172 mph)
- Range: 771 km (416 nm, 476 mi)
- Service ceiling 6,100 m (20,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 7.36 m/s (1,448 ft/min)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Eurocopter/CATIC EC-120 "Colibri". All the World's Rotorcraft. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
- ^ EC120 Assembly Line. Australian Aerospace. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
- ^ HC-120 (EC-120) Helicopter. Global Security.org. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
- ^ Defense Industry Daily
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - Eurocopter Hands Over The First Of A Total Of Six EC120 Training Helicopters To The German Ministry Of The Interior
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - Eurocopter Signs Contract For Two EC120 For APOORVA Aviation At Aero India
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - 400th EC120 Delivered To Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - U.S. Customs & Border Protection Takes Delivery Of Its First EC120
[edit] External links
- Official Eurocopter EC 120 B Website
- EC120 webpage on American Eurocopter website
- UK-CAA & JAA Type Certificate Data Sheet
- Harbin Aviation Industries producer of the HC120.
[edit] See also
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