Eurocopter AS350

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AS350 Ecureuil/AStar
An AS350BA Squirrel of the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm at the 2008 Melbourne Grand Prix
Role Light utility helicopter
Manufacturer Aérospatiale
Eurocopter Group
First flight 26 June 1974
Introduction 1975
Produced 1975 to date
Unit cost ~US$2.0M, €1.5M (AS350 B2)
~US$2.3M, €1.75M (AS350 B3)
Variants Eurocopter AS355
AS550 Fennec
Developed into Eurocopter EC130

The Eurocopter AS350 Ecureuil (Squirrel) is a single-engined light helicopter originally manufactured by Aérospatiale (now part of Eurocopter Group). The AS350 is marketed in North America as the AStar. The AS355 Ecureuil 2 (marketed in North America as the TwinStar.) is a twin-engined variant, while the Eurocopter EC130 is a derivative of the AS350 airframe.

Contents

[edit] Design and development

Development began in the early 1970s to replace the Alouette II, and the first flight took place on 27 June 1974.[1] Despite the introduction of the EC130, production of the Eurocopter AS350 remains strong.

The Helicópteros do Brasil (Helibras) subsidiary of Eurocopter signed a contract for a major upgrade program on the Brazilian Army’s fleet of 36 AS350 Ecureuils.[2]

[edit] Operational history

On May 14, 2005 an AS350 B3 piloted by Eurocopter test pilot Didier Delsalle (fr:Didier Delsalle) touched down on the top of Mt. Everest, at 8,850 metres (29,035 feet).[3] This record has been confirmed by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.[4][dead link]

On April 29, 2010 a stripped-down AS350 B3 succeeded in rescuing three alpinists from Annapurna, Nepal at 7,100 m (23,2939 feet), one at a time, the highest[citation needed] such rescue.

[edit] Variants

A Canadian AS350 BA AStar
An AS350B of the French Gendarmerie nationale.
Mt. Hotham snow fields AS350 B3
A San Diego Police Department AS350 B3 helicopter
A Eurocopter AS350 dips its bucket into a swimming pool before returning to drop the water on a wildfire outside of Naples, Italy
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department AS350 B3
AS350
Prototype.
AS350 Firefighter
Fire fighting version.
AS350B
Powered by one Turbomeca Arriel 1B engine.
AS350 B1
Improved version of the original AS350B, which is powered by one Arriel 1D engine, type also fitted with AS355 main rotor blades, AS355 tail rotor with tabs and a tail rotor servo.
AS350 B2
Higher gross weight version powered by one Arriel 1D1 engine over the B1 version with aerodynamic strake fitted to tail boom along the starboard side and angled engine exhaust duct for better yaw control.
AS350 B3
High-performance version, is powered by a Arriel 2B engine equipped with a single channel (DECU) Digital Engine Control Unit with a mechanical backup system. This helicopter is the first ever to land on Mount Everest. AS350 B3/2B1 variant introduces enhanced engine with dual channel (FADEC) Full Authority Digital Engine Control, dual hydraulics and a 2,370 kg (5,225 lb) Maximum Take Off Weight. AS350 B3e (introduced late 2011) equipped with the Arriel 2D engine.
AS350 BA
Powered by a Arriel 1B engine and fitted with wider chord AS355 main rotor blades and tail rotor servo.
AS350 BB
AS350 B2 variant selected to meet rotary-wing training needs of UK MoD, through its Defence Helicopter Flying School in 1996. Powered by a derated Arriel 1D1 engine to improve the helicopters' life cycle.
Eurocopter Squirrel HT.1
Designation of AS350BB in operation with British RAF as a training helicopter.
Eurocopter Squirrel HT.2
Designation of AS350BB in operation with British Army Air Corps as a training helicopter.
AS350 C
Initial variant of Lycoming LTS-101-600A2 powered version developed for the North American market as the AStar. Quickly superseded by AS350D.
AS350 D
Powered by one Lycoming LTS-101 engine for the North American market as the AStar. At one stage marketed as AStar 'Mark III.'
AS350 L1
Military derivative of AS350 B1, powered by a 510kW (684shp) Turbomeca Arriel 1D turboshaft engine. Superseded by AS350 L2.
AS350 L2
Military derivative of AS350 B2, powered by a 546kW (732shp) Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 turboshaft engine. Designation superseded by AS550 C2.
HB350 B Esquilo
Unarmed military version for the Brazilian Air Force. Brazilian designations CH-50 and TH-50. Built under licence by Helibras in Brazil.
HB350 B1 Esquilo
Unarmed military version for the Brazilian Navy. Brazilian designation UH-12. Built under licence by Helibras in Brazil.
HB350 L1
Armed military version for the Brazilian Army. Brazilian designation HA-1. Built under licence by Helibras in Brazil.

[edit] Aftermarket conversions

Soloy Super D
AS350 BA powered by an LTS101-600A-3A engine.
Soloy Super D2
AS350 B2 powered by an LTS101-700D-2 engine.
Heli-Lynx 350FX1
AS350 BA powered by an LTS101-600A-3A engine.
Heli-Lynx 350FX2
AS350 BA or AS350 B2 powered by an LTS101-700D-2 engine.
Otech AS350BA+
AS350 BA powered by an LTS101-600A-3A engine.[5]

[edit] Operators

[edit] Civilian operators

AS350 B3 heli-ski helicopter operated by Jet Systems at Les Arcs
AS350 B2 operated by Heliflite picking up hikers in Enontekiö, Finland.
AS350 B2 used by tour operator Sundance Helicopters, based in Las Vegas.

The AS350 has been popular with many air charter companies and other small operators. Major fleet operators have included:

 Sri Lanka

 Australia
 Canada
 Finland
 Greenland
 Italy
  • Fireman Helicopters Group, Autonomous Province of Trento[10] utilizes two AS350 B3 for mountain rescue, fire service, transport service and various civil defence activities.
  • Eliwork [11] operate two AS350 B3 for heliski, aerialwork, passengers transport, aerial filming and other activities.
 Liechtenstein
 Monaco
 New Zealand
 Portugal
  • Helibravo operates AS350 B2 and B3.[12]
  • EMA operates 3 AS350B3[13]
  • Heliportugal operates both AS350 B2 and B3[14][15]
 United States
  • Flight for Life Colorado Emergency medical transport based near Denver, Colorado operates five leased AS350 B3s.
  • Heli USA Airways, Inc. A Las Vegas based helicopter tour operator using a fleet of 11 AS350's[16]
  • Temsco HelicoptersTEMSCO (an acronym from the words: Tours (Timber), Exploration, Mining, Survery, Cargo Operations)serving several communities in Alaska providing tours, medical transport, and commercial services on a variety of AS350's.[17]
  • WCVB-TV Boston operates a AS350B dubbed Sky 5.

[edit] Law Enforcement operators

Águia 6 (Eagle 6), an HB-350 of the Polícia Militar do Estado de São Paulo (São Paulo State Military Police)
An AS350B rescue helicopter owned by French National Gendarmerie
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department AS350 B3

The AS350 has been popular with many law enforcement operators. Major fleet operators have included:

 Angola
 Australia
 Austria
 Belarus
 Brazil
 Canada
 France
 Ireland
 Mexico
 Philippines
 South Africa
 United States

[edit] Military operators

AS.350BB Squirrel HT1 of the (UK) Defence Helicopter Flying School
 Argentina
 Albania
 Australia
 Botswana
 Brazil
 Bolivia
 Central African Republic
 Chile
 Ecuador
 Gabon
 Malawi
 Paraguay
 Peru
 United Kingdom

[edit] Notable achievements and accidents

Mount Everest from an aircraft
  • On 14 May 2005, a Ecureuil AS350B3 piloted by Didier Delsalle landed at about 8,848 meters on the top of the Mount Everest. As required by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the aircraft remained on the summit longer than 2 minutes before returning to Lukla. He actually landed on the summit two times.[24] He only needed to land for two minutes to officially set the record, but he stayed for about four minutes twice.[24] The flight set rotorcraft world records, for highest of both landing and take-off.[25] Delsalle also rescued two Japanese climbers at 16,000 feet (4,877 meters), and one climber noted that the Eurocopter flight meant a better chance of rescue.[24]

[edit] Specifications (AS350 B3)

Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000[33]

General characteristics

Performance

Avionics
Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD) with First Limit Indicator (FLI) fitted as standard.

† 4, 5, & 6 passengers options available.[35] The 6 passenger configuration is a relatively uncommon high-density seating option that replaces one front seat with a two person bench and the pilot relocated to the left side of the cockpit.[36]

[edit] See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://62.160.110.229/jrotor/73/latinamerica.html#I0000f69b
  2. ^ AS350'lere elixir of youth – SavunmaSanayi.Net
  3. ^ http://www.everestnews.com/stories2005/everestcopter05272005.htm
  4. ^ Rotorcraft World Records
  5. ^ Reyno, Mike, "Power Play", Vertical December 2006
  6. ^ {{cite web|url=http://www.helicopters.com.au/sub/capa_fire.html%7Ctitle=Servicing Fire Fighting|publisher=Helicopters (Australia) pty ltd|accessdate=2009-04-14}}
  7. ^ "Blackcomb Aviation - Helicopters". Blackcomb Aviation. http://www.blackcombhelicopters.com/equipment/astar_350_DGA.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-19. 
  8. ^ blairwalker1 (undated). "Geophysical Survey Aircraft - Eurocopter AS 350 B3". http://geotech.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=34&Itemid=124. Retrieved 11 November 2010. [dead link]
  9. ^ Air Greenland AS350 page
  10. ^ Fireman Helicopters Group Trento webpage
  11. ^ Eliwork webpage
  12. ^ http://www.helibravo.com/fleet
  13. ^ http://www.ema-sa.pt/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31:eurocopter-as-350b3-ecureuil&catid=6:frota&Itemid=23
  14. ^ http://www.heliportugal.pt/#/pt/frota/ptas350b2
  15. ^ http://www.heliportugal.pt/#/pt/frota/ptas350b3
  16. ^ [ www.heliusa.com]
  17. ^ [1]
  18. ^ "Final AS350 Delivered to Angolan Police". Air International. August 2011, p. 34.
  19. ^ Flugpolizei Website (German!)
  20. ^ LAPD Standardizes AS350B2s With Sagem Cockpit
  21. ^ http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?100975-African-Military-Aviation-Post-your-images-here!/page32&s=0f0e705cd0fe84143ed88bc7cfb93aac
  22. ^ 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
  23. ^ http://www.fbheliservices.com/FBH/Middle%20Wallop.htm
  24. ^ a b c "Landing on Air". National Geographic Adventure. 2005-09-01. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0509/whats_new/helicopter_everest.html. Retrieved 2009-06-24. 
  25. ^ Federation Aeronautique Internationale records page. (Search for "Everest" on that page).
  26. ^ http://www.abc15.com/content/aboutus/bios/story.aspx?content_id=cbbf03e0-247b-4b74-be7a-8c199c50d80d
  27. ^ Civil Aviation Authority
  28. ^ "Colin McRae feared dead in helicopter crash - police". Yahoo! News/AFP. http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20070915/tuk-auto-rally-gbr-mcrae-b5b5cc4_1.html. Retrieved 2007-09-16. [dead link]
  29. ^ Rose, Gareth; Watson, Jeremy (16 September 2007). "Rally ace Colin McRae dies in helicopter crash". Edinburgh: The Scotsman. http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment.cfm?id=1483222007. Retrieved 2007-09-16. 
  30. ^ [2]
  31. ^ [3]
  32. ^ Munoz, Rob; Velez, Michelle; Moyer, Phillip (16 September 2007). "Five killed in tour helicopter crash near Lake Mead". Las Vegas: MyNews3. http://www.mynews3.com/s/0L5n8V0Kw0esQuglbbyF9w.cspx. Retrieved 2011-12-08. 
  33. ^ Taylor 1999, p.377.
  34. ^ Fuselage length
  35. ^ http://www.eurocopter.com/site/en/ref/Overview_68.html
  36. ^ http://www.trykauai.com/astar-seats.gif
  • Taylor, Michael J.H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London:Brassey's, 1999. ISBN 1 85753 245 7.

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