Eurocopter EC155
| EC155 | |
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| Eurocopter EC155 B1 at Paris Air Show 2007 | |
| Role | Passenger Transport Helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Eurocopter |
| First flight | 17 June 1997 |
| Introduction | March 1999 |
| Unit cost | US$10 million, €7.5 million |
| Developed from | Eurocopter AS365 N3 Dauphin 2 |
| Developed into | Eurocopter X3 |
The Eurocopter EC155 is a long-range medium-lift passenger transport helicopter developed by Eurocopter from the Dauphin family for civil aviation use. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up to 13 passengers along with 1 or 2 crew, depending on customer configuration. The helicopter is marketed for passenger transport, offshore support, VIP corporate transport and casualty transport duties.
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[edit] Development
Originally designated AS365 N4, the EC155 was developed from the Eurocopter AS365 N3 Dauphin 2 with the aim of significantly increasing the cabin space of the Dauphin. Development began in September 1996 with the helicopter officially announced by Eurocopter at the Paris Air Show in June 1997. The first EC155 helicopter, a modified Dauphin airframe, made its maiden flight at Marignane on 17 June 1997 and the first pre-production EC155 B flew on 11 March 1998. The aircraft received safety certification by the French & German Civil Aviation Authorities on 11 December 1998 and went into production soon after, with a price tag of US$7–8 million depending on installed equipment. Deliveries of the EC155 B began in March 1999, with the German Federal Police becoming the first operator.
The EC155 B1 was developed with more powerful engines and has improved performance at high altitude and in hot temperature conditions. This derivative also features a higher maximum take-off weight (10,846 lb vs. 10,580 lb). Deliveries of this model began in November 2002 with the Hong Kong Government Flying Service becoming the first operator.
[edit] Design
The EC155 B features a completely redesigned cabin providing 30% more passenger space than previous Dauphin helicopter models, plus a 130% increase in baggage hold volume. Other major improvements include a five-blade Spheriflex composite main rotor combined with the familiar shrouded Fenestron tail rotor to reduce vibration levels significantly. The EC155 B is powered by two 635 kW (851 shp) Turbomeca Arriel 2C1 turboshaft engines mounted over the luggage hold, which feature a dual-channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system. The EC155 B1 features uprated 697 kW (935 shp) Arriel 2C2s. The helicopter can be fitted with an anti-icing system to enable the aircraft to operate in very cold climates. The all-glass cockpit is equipped with an 'Avionique Nouvelle' integrated digital flight control system featuring Eurocopter's Vehicle and Engine Management Display (VEMD), which utilizes active matrix liquid crystal displays. The EC155 is also equipped with a four-axis digital autopilot, coupled to the engine FADECs for full-envelope protection, and is offered with a Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS).
Eurocopter designed the EC155 originally with three configurations, however, another two configurations were added in 2005. The Passenger Transport version can carry 12 passengers in comfort seats or 13 passengers in utility seats, along with 1 or 2 crew. The VIP or Corporate Transport version has a VIP lounge with working space accommodating up to 8 executives. The Casualty Transport version can carry 2 stretchered patients with up to 4 seated medical staff, or 4 patients on stretchers plus 2 seated medical staff. The configurations added in 2005 were for Offshore operation and Police & Parapublic missions ranging from patrol, airborne surveillance, SAR and EMS, the helicopter being fitted with specific mission equipment for these duties.
[edit] Operational history
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[edit] Variants
- EC155 - The first prototype, built from modifying an existing Dauphin airframe.
- EC155 B - The first production version, powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2C1 turboshaft engines.
- EC155 B1 - A more powerful model equipped with two Turbomeca Arriel 2C2 turboshaft engines and higher M.T.O.W., offering enhanced hot/high performance
- AS565 UC - Designation of early military derivative study
[edit] Operators
The aircraft is operated by private individuals, companies and charter operators. It is also operated by the following government organisations and as an offshore transport for the gas and oil industry.
- Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) - Four EC155 B1s used for offshore operations in the Caspian Sea/[1]
- Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen (NHV) - Two EC155 B1s used for offshore operations in the North Sea
- CITIC Offshore Helicopter Corporation - Two B1s in service to support an offshore platform in the South China Sea. The two helicopters were purchased for US$24.7 million in 2004.[2]
- Shanghai Public Security Bureau - One ordered in 2007, to be used for police air patrol and reconnaissance missions in Shanghai.[3]
- Bundespolizei (German Federal Police) - 15 in service.[5]
- Baden-Württemberg Police - Two in service
- North Rhine-Westphalia Police - Two in service
Hong Kong- Hong Kong Government Flying Service - Four out of five B1s delivered in service.[6][7]
- Toho Air Service - One B in service for news gathering of Fuji Television.[8]
- Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department - One B1 in service.[9]
- Aeropersonal seven EC-155 for panoramic flights, special VIP charter,air taxi, offshore and pipeline patrol.
- Heliservicios based in Ciudad del Carmen operate four EC-155's in offshore, VIP charters, air ambulance, cartography,air photography and AWSAR operations around of all Campeche Peninsula coast.
- Bristow Helicopters - Six in service for offshore operations for Shell Nigeria, aircraft also have external life rafts and are equipped for SAR duties.[10]
- 1 for passengers charters for Rent Helicopters [2])
- 1 in service for the Civil Aviation School(YR-MDH)
- Royal Thai Police - 2 EC155 B1s in service in a VIP configuration.[11]
- University of Michigan Survival Flight has ordered 3 EC155's for HEMS duty, to replace their current fleet of 3 Bell helicopters.[12]
- CHC - 3 in service for offshore operations.
[edit] Incidents
- A Government Flying Service EC155-B1 crashed on a hill in Tung Chung on Lantau Island, Hong Kong on August 26, 2003 killing two aircrew.[13]
[edit] Specifications (EC155 B1)
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This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them. |
Data from {Eurocopter.com}[14]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 or 2 (pilots)
- Capacity: 13 passengers
- Length: 14.30 m (46.91 ft)
- Rotor diameter: 12.60 m (41.34 ft)
- Height: 4.35 m (14.27 ft)
- Empty weight: 2,618 kg (5,772 lb)
- Loaded weight: 4,950 kg (10,913 lb)
- Useful load: 2,301 kg (5,072 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 4,920 kg (10,846 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Arriel 2C2 turboshaft, 697 kW (943 shp) each
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 324 km/h, 201 mph (175 kts)
- Cruise speed: 280 km/h, 174 mph (151 kts)
- Range: 857 km, 532 mi (463 nm)
- Service ceiling: 4,572 m (15,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 8.9 m/s (1,766 ft/min)
[edit] See also
- Related development
- Aérospatiale SA 360 Dauphin
- Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin
- Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin
- Eurocopter AS565 Panther
- Eurocopter X3
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
[edit] References
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - Azerbaijan Airlines Orders 6 Helicopters From Eurocopter
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - Eurocopter Delivers An EC155 B1 Helicopter To CITIC Offshore Helicopter Corporation Ltd
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - Shanghai Public Security Bureau Signs Contract With Eurocopter For 3 Helicopters
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - The Scandinavian Operator HTG Picks Up Its First Offshore EC 155 B1
- ^ EADS N.V. - German Federal Border Guard Becomes World's Largest Operator Of EC135 and EC155
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - The Hong Kong Government Flying Service Receives The Last Of Its Five EC155 B1 Helicopters
- ^ Aircraft Accident Report 1/2006, Civil Aviation Department, Hong Kong Government
- ^ 運航機種, Toho Air Service
- ^ "JA Search:日本の民間航空機データベース [Civilian airplane database of Japan]" (in Japanese). JA Search. 2010. http://alpha.kilo.jp/aircraft_hist.html?r_number=JA11MP. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - Shell Petroleum Development Company Ltd. Receives Its First EC155 B
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - Two EC155 B1s For The Royal Thai Police
- ^ [1]
- ^ Aircraft Accident Report 1/2006, Civil Aviation Department, Hong Kong Government
- ^ "Eurocopter EC155 B1 Technical Data" (PDF). http://www.eurocopter.com/site/docs_wsw/fichiers_communs/docs/TD_155B1.pdf. Retrieved 2007-07-15.[dead link]
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Eurocopter Dauphin |
- Eurocopter EC 155 B Technical Data Manual
- Eurocopter EC 155 B1 Technical Data Manual
- Aerospace Technology - Eurocopter EC 155
- Flug Revue Online - Eurocopter EC 155B1 (AS 365N4 Dauphin)
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