Eurocopter EC130
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| EC 130 | |
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| One of the Long Beach Police Department's EC130 B4 helicopters refuels at Rialto, California. | |
| Role | Light utility |
| Manufacturer | Eurocopter |
| First flight | 24 June 1999 |
| Introduced | 2001 |
| Unit cost | ~US$2.1M[citation needed] |
| Developed from | Eurocopter AS350 |
The Eurocopter EC130 Ecureuil is a single-engine light helicopter developed from the AS350 Ecureuil airframe.
Contents |
[edit] Design and development
The EC130 is a wide-body variant of the AS350 B3, and was first flown on 24 June 1999. The EC130 features an enclosed tail fan rather than the traditional tail rotor found on the older AS350. This Fenestron (French for "small window") has the advantage of reducing outside noise by 50% compared to a tail rotor, resulting in an FAA Appendix H fly-over noise signature of 84.3 EPNdB, 8.5 dB below stage 2 limits. The EC130 was designed in close cooperation with tour operators, and features a spacious cockpit with excellent external visibility, capable of accommodating seven tourists. The EC130 entered service with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters in 2001, and is now a common sight in Hawaii and the Grand Canyon.
The EC130 is also quickly becoming popular within the air medical services (AMS) community, due to its large cabin (capable of accommodating one or two stretchers), wide side door and enclosed Fenestron anti-torque device. The world's largest AMS operator, Air Methods, already operates six EC130s.
[edit] Variants
- EC130 B4
- basic version.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Law Enforcement operators
- Broward County Sheriff's Office uses one Eurocopter EC130 B4 helicopter.
- Long Beach Police Department uses two Eurocopter EC130 B4 helicopters.
[edit] Civilian operators
- The Adelaide Bank Rescue Helicopter Service operates an EC130 B4 for emergency situations. It is also made available to the South Australian Police who use the aircraft for both crime prevention and also in the pursuit of motor vehicles and suspects.
- Great Slave Helicopters - 3 EC130 B4 in service, based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
- 1 EC130 B4 in service with Johann Lafer's Heli Gourmet service which combines helicopter travel with an outdoor eating
experience.[1]
- 2 EC130 B4 in service with Heli Air Monaco.
- 1 EC130 B4 in service with Over The Top, a helicopter tour company based in Queenstown.[2]
- 4 EC130 B4 in service with Heli Holland.
- 1 EC130 B4 in service with Falcon Aviation Services and 2 more ordered in 2007.[3]
- 6 EC130 B4 helicopters in service with air medical services provider Air Methods.
- 9 EC130 B4 helicopters in service with tour operator Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.
- 3 EC130 B4 helicopters in service with tour operator Grand Canyon Helicopters.
- 25 EC130 B4 helicopters in service with tour operator Maverick Helicopters based in Las Vegas.
- 3 EC130 B4 helicopters in service with air medical services provider Medi Flight Oklahoma, based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- 7 EC130 B4 in service with tour operator Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters.
- 2 EC130 B4 in service with tour operator Sundance Helicopters, based in Las Vegas.
- 6 EC130 B4 in service with tour operator Sunshine Helicopters in Hawaii.
- 2 EC130 B4 in service with tour operator Stars and Stripes Air Tours Las Vegas, Nevada
[edit] Specifications (EC130 B4)
Data from {Eurocopter EC130 B4 2008 tech data book}
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 (pilot in left seat)
- Capacity: 6 passengers (2 at front and four at back) can be modified to take 7 passengers (3 at front and four at back)
- Length: 10.68 m (35 ft)
- Rotor diameter: 10.69 m (35 ft 1in)
- Height: 3.34 m (10 ft 11 in)
- Empty weight: 1,377 kg (3,036 lbs)
- Useful load: 1,050 kg (2,315 lbs)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,427 kg (5,351 lbs)
- Powerplant: 1× Turbomeca Arriel 2B1 turboshaft, 632 kW (847 shp)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 287 km/h (155 knots, 178 mph)
- Cruise speed: 240 km/h (130 knots, 150 mph)
- Range: 610 km (329 nm, 378 mi)
- Service ceiling: : 4,770 m (15,655 ft)
- Rate of climb: 9.0 m/s (1,770 ft/min)
Avionics
Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD) with First Limit Indicator (FLI) fitted as standard.
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Eurocopter Ecureuil |
- Eurocopter EC130 Ecureuil page
- EASA Type Certificate R.008 AS350/EC130
- The ECOSTAR: A new era in Helicopter Tourism
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