Eurocopter AS355 Écureuil 2

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AS355 Ecureuil 2/TwinStar
An AS355 F2 of Hankyu Airlines at Maishima Heliport, Osaka, Japan
Role Light utility helicopter
Manufacturer Aérospatiale
Eurocopter Group
First flight 3 October 1979
Primary user Chilean Army , Jamaica and Bhutan
Produced 1975 to date
Developed from Eurocopter AS350
Variants AS555 Fennec

The Eurocopter AS355 Ecureuil 2 (Twin Squirrel) is a twin-engine light helicopter originally manufactured by Aérospatiale (now part of Eurocopter Group). The AS355 is marketed in North America as the TwinStar.

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] A twin-engined version, known as the Ecureuil 2, Twin Squirrel, or in North America as the TwinStar, first flew on 28 September 1979.[2] Despite the introduction of the EC130, production of the Eurocopter AS350 and AS355, and the AS550 and AS555 Fennec military versions remains strong.

Both single and twin-engined versions have been built under licence by Helibras in Brazil.

Variants

Twin engine

AS355N Twin Squirrel
Royal Malaysian Police Air Wing Unit's AS355N Twin Squirrel.
AS355F1 Ecureuil 2
BBC News AS355 G-TVHD
AS 355N in 2006
AS355
Prototype of the twin-engined Ecureuil 2 or Twin Squirrel.
AS355 E
Initial production version, with single hydraulics, powered by two Allison 250 turboshaft engines. Known as the Twin Star in the United States and Canada.
AS355 F
Improved version, now with dual hydraulics, and fitted with improved rotor blades and systems.
AS355 F1
Powered by the Allison C20F engine. 2,400 kg (5,291 lb) M.T.O.W.
AS355 F2
Powered by the Allison C20F engine with uprated engine and transmission for higher M.T.O.W. (2,540 kg or 5,600 lb), and hydraulic accumulator for better tail rotor control.
AS355 M
Initial armed version of AS355 F1.
AS355 M2
Armed version of AS355 F2. Superseded by AS555 Fennec.
AS355 N 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 (2,600 kg or 5,732 lb) and better single engine performance. Known as the TwinStar in the United States, tail rotor strake added along starboard side of tail boom for better yaw authority.
AS355 NP Ecureuil 2
Introduced in 2007, this version is fitted with two Turbomeca Arrius 1A1 turboshaft engines and a new AS350 B3-based main gearbox, increasing maximum take-off weight to 2,800 kg (6,173 lb).[3]
HB.355F Esquilo Bi
Licence built in Brazil by Helibras.
HB.355N Esquilo Bi
Licence built in Brazil by Helibras.

Aftermarket conversions

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
AS355 F1 powered by the Allison C20R engine. FAA, TC and EASA approved.
Starflex AS355F2R
AS355 F2 Powered by the Allison C20R engine with optimised tail rotor blades. FAA, TC and EASA approved.

Operators

Military operators

 Algeria
 Brazil
 Cambodia
 Chile
 Djibouti
 France
 Jamaica
 Malawi
 Rwanda
 Uruguay
 Trinidad and Tobago
 Venezuela
 Pakistan

Law Enforcement operators

 Austria
 Belarus
 Canada
 Ireland
 New Zealand
  • New Zealand Police operate two AS355 F1 helicopters providing air support primarily to the greater Auckland region.
 Philippines
 Trinidad and Tobago
 United States

Malaysia Malaysia

 Mexico

Civilian operators

Arena Twin Squirrels
 Australia
 Bhutan[18]
 Trinidad and Tobago
  • Briko Air Services - operates one AS355 F2
 Chile
  • DAP Helicópteros (AS355)[19]
 United Kingdom
  • Arena Aviation own & operate four Twin Squirrels for TV news gathering & aerial filming.[20]
  • CabAir Helicopters operate a number of Twin Squirrel "VIP Version" helicopters.[21]
 Hong Kong
 India
 Philippines
 United States
  • AirMed/Gold Cross EMS operates one TwinStar medical evacuation helicopter.[22]
 Slovakia

Accidents and incidents

  • On 22 October 1996, Chelsea Football Club Vice Chairman Matthew Harding together with five companions were killed when their AS355 F1 Squirrel, registration G-CFLT, crashed near Middlewich, Cheshire.[23]
  • In July 1998, the Kent Air Ambulance, a AS355 F1 Squirrel, crashed in good weather after colliding with power cables near Burham whilst returning to Rochester Airport following an aborted call to attend a road accident.[24] All three crew - the pilot, Graham Budden, and two paramedics, Tony Richardson and Mark Darby - were killed on impact.[25] The crash was ultimately attributed to mechanical failure.[26][27]
  • In May 2007, Chelsea Football Club Vice President Philip Carter, founder of training company Carter and Carter, crashed in his part-owned Twin Squirell registration G-BYPA returning from Liverpool John Lennon Airport after watching Chelsea play Liverpool F.C..[28]

Specifications (AS355F2)

Cockpit of AS355 F1 Ecureuil 2

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89[29]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 6

Performance

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

  1. ^ http://62.160.110.229/jrotor/73/latinamerica.html#I0000f69b
  2. ^ Taylor 1988, p.61.
  3. ^ Eurocopter Press Release - Eurocopter Upgrades Its Most Affordable Twin, The AS355 Ecureuil/TwinStar
  4. ^ Algerian Air Force Order of Battle. Scramble. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  5. ^ Brazilian Air Force Order of Battle Scramble. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  6. ^ Brazilian Navy Order of Battle Scramble. 11 May 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  7. ^ Flight 11–17 November 2008, p.54.
  8. ^ Flight 11–17 November 2008, p.58.
  9. ^ Flight 11–17 November 2008, p.59.
  10. ^ Flight 11–17 November 2008, p.66.
  11. ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
  12. ^ a b c Flight 11–17 November 2008, p.76.
  13. ^ Flugpolizei Website (German!)
  14. ^ Belarusian News Agency BELTA - Ecureuil landed in Minsk-1 (Russian)
  15. ^ The State Boundary Committee arms with the European helicopters.
  16. ^ An Garda Síochána - Air Support Unit
  17. ^ http://www.phototour.minneapolis.mn.us/philippines/philippines_transportation/5812
  18. ^ Kuensel Newspaper - Domestic helicopter service picks up
  19. ^ DAP Helicópteros webpage
  20. ^ http://www.aerial-filming.co.uk
  21. ^ http://www.cabairhelicopters.com
  22. ^ http://www.airmedga.com
  23. ^ "Pilot disorientated on impact". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
  24. ^ "Bulletin No:2/2000 Aerospatiale AS355 F1 Ecureuil II G-MASK" (PDF). Air Accident Investigation Board.
  25. ^ "UK Helicopter crash kills three". BBC News. 1998-07-27. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  26. ^ "Air ambulance crash pilot cleared". BBC News. 19 February 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  27. ^ "Review of pilot death - Graham Budden". Aviation Watch. 1998.
  28. ^ "Millionaire Chelsea fan and his son die in helicopter crash". Daily Mail. May 2, 2007. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  29. ^ Taylor 1988, pp.60—62.
  30. ^ Max slung load

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eurocopter Ecureuil.
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