Eurocopter AS350

Eurocopter AS350

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocopter_AS350

AS350 Ecureuil/AStar

An AS350 rescue helicopter owned by French Gendarmerie
Role	Light utility helicopter
Manufacturer	Aérospatiale Eurocopter Group
First flight	26 June 1974
Introduced	1975
Produced	1975 to date
Unit cost	~US$1.6M (AS350 B2) ~US$2.0M (AS350 B3)^{[citation needed]}
Variants	Eurocopter AS355 AS550 Fennec 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 is a twin-engined variant, while the Eurocopter EC130 is a derivative of the AS350 airframe.

Design and development

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

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

Operational history

On May 14, 2005 a standard-configured Ecureuil AS350 B3 piloted by Eurocopter test pilot Didier Delsalle touched down on the top of Mt. Everest, at 8,850 meters (29,035 feet) . This record has been confirmed by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.

Variants

Single engine

A Canadian AS350 BA AStar

A Swedish Jamtlands Flyg AS350 B2

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

AS350: Prototype.
AS350 Firefighter: Fire fighting version.
AS350B: Powered by one Turbomeca Arriel 1B engine.
AS350 B1: Powered by one Turbomeca Arriel 1D engine.
AS350 B2: Higher gross weight version powered by one Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 engine.
AS350 B3: High-performance version, is powered by a Turbomeca Arriel 2B engine equipped with a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system. This helicopter is the first ever to land on Mount Everest. Recently introduced AS350 B3/2B1 variant introduces enhanced engine with dual digital FADEC, dual hydraulics and a 2,370 kg (5,225 lb) M.T.O.W.
AS350 BA: Powered by a Turbomeca Arriel 1B engine and fitted with wider chord main rotor blades.
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 Turbomeca 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 510-kW (684-shp) Turbomeca Arriel 1D turboshaft engine. Superseded by AS350 L2.
AS350 L2: Military derivative of AS350 B2, powered by a 546-kW (732-shp) 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.

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 .

Operators

Military operators

Australia

Australian Defence Force
- Australian Defence Force Helicopter School
Fleet Air Arm (RAN)
- No. 723 Squadron RAN
Royal Australian Air Force is former operator of the 18 Sqirrels. RAAF A22-001 to -012 were in service with RAAF from 1984 to 1990.
- No. 5 Squadron RAAF
Australian Army Aviation is former operator.

Botswana

Botswana Defence Force Air Wing AS350

Brazil

Central African Republic

Central African Republic - The sole helicopter of the Central Arfican Republic's Air Force

Chile

Chilean Army AS350

Ecuador

Ecuadorian Air Force 5 AS350

Paraguay

Paraguayan Air Force 4 Helibras HB-350/UH-50 Esquilo
Paraguayan Naval Aviation 2 Helibras HB-350/UH-50 Esquilo

Senegal
United Kingdom

Ministry of Defence's Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury - 38 AS350 BB helicopters in service with FB Heliservices for the for training all British Armed Forces helicopter pilots.

Vietnam

Law Enforcement operators

San Bernardino County Sheriff's AS350 B3

Austria

Flugpolizei (Ministry of Interior) operates five AS350 B1

Botswana

Botswana Police Service Air Support Branchoperates 3 AS350B3 helicopters

Brazil

Various police departments operates the HB350 Esquilo

Canada

Royal Canadian Mounted Police operates a fleet of 8 AS350 B3 helicopters.

South Africa

South African Police Service Air Wing operates 11 AS350B3s.

United States

Anaheim Police Department operates an AS350 B2 helicopter.
Baltimore County Police Department operates three Eurocopter AS350B3 helicopters.
Bernalillo County(Albuquerque, New Mexico) Sheriff Department operates an AS350 B3 helicopter.
Broward County Sheriff's Office(Florida) operates an AS350 B2 helicopter.
California Highway Patrol operates 10 AS350 B3 helicopters and a single AS350 B2.
Citrus County Sheriff's Office(Florida) operates a single AS350 B3 helicopter.
Dekalb County Police (Georgia) operate 2 AS350 B2 helicopters.
East Bay Regional Park Police(Oakland, California) operates an AS350 B2 helicopter.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office(Florida) operates 3 AS350 B2 helicopters.
Lee County Sheriff's Office(Florida) operates two AS350B/B2 helicopters.
Los Angeles Police Department operates 14 AS350 B2 helicopters.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates 12 AS350 B2 helicopters.
Massachusetts State Police operates an AS350 BA.
Memphis Police Department(Tennessee) operates an AS350 B3 helicopter.
Oakland County(Pontiac, Michigan) Sheriff's Department operates 2 AS350 B2 helicopters.
Ohio State Highway Patrol operates an AS350 B2 helicopter.
Ontario, CA Police Department operates 2 AS350 B2 helicopters.
Orange County, CA Sheriff's Department operates 2 AS350 B2 helicopters.
Phoenix Police Department operates 3 AS350 B3 helicopters.
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (Florida) operates 2 AS350 B2 helicopters.
Riverside County Sheriff's Department operate 4 AS350 B3 helicopters.
San Antonio Police Department operates an AS350 B3 helicopter.
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department operates 6 AS350 B3 helicopters
San Diego Police Department operates 4 AS350 B3 helicopters.
Suffolk County Police Department(Long Island, New York) operates 2 Eurocopter AS350 B2 helicopters.
Texas Department of Public Safety operates three AS350 B and nine AS350 B2 helicopters.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection operates 48 AS350 helicopters, and in July 2008 signed a multi-year contract for up to 50 additional AS350 B3s to meet its Light Enforcement Helicopter requirement.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operate several AS350 B2 and AS350 B3 helicopters.
U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency operates two AS350 B2 helicopters.
Utah Highway Patrol operates 2 AS350 B2 helicopters.
Washington DC Metro Police Department operates 2 AS350 B3 helicopters.

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.

Austria

Wucher Helicopter operates the AS350 B3.

Australia

Australian Antarctic Division - uses the Eurocopter AS350 for intra-continental air operations in Antarctica.
Westpac Life Safer Rescue Helicopter Services - 2 Eurocopter AS350.
Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia - use 4 AS350 B3 for fire fighting.

Chile

Ecocopter (AS350)
Helicopters.cl (AS350 B3)
Kipreos (AS350 BA)
SumaAir (AS350 B3)

Finland

Heliflite Oy in the arctic Finland

Hungary

3 AS350 B in service with Hungarian Air Ambulance Service, all of them received general overhaul in 2005-2007.

Iran

Iran uses several of them for geological survey and oil exploration.

Iceland

1 AS350 B2 is operated by Northflight, also do they have one more on its way.

Italy

Fireman Helicopters Group, Autonomous Province of Trentoutilizes two AS350 B3 for mountain rescue, fire service, transport service and various civil defence activities.

New Zealand

Volcanic Air Safaris operates one AS350B Squirrel helicopter, registered ZK-IAB. The AS350B is commonly used for sight seeing, corporate charters, tourism, aerial video and promotions.

South Africa

Netcare 911 uses the AS350B2 and B3 variants for Air Medical Services. South African Red Cross Air Mercy Services uses 4 AS350B2 variants for medical evacuations. N.A.C Helicopters utilises the AS350B for charter.

Sweden

The old swedish firm Jamtlands Flyg operates one AS350 B2 mainly in the mountainious regions bordering Norway

United States

Flight for Life Emergency medical transport based near Denver, Colorado operates four leased AS350.
Air Mauioperates air tours of the island of Maui, Hawaii using a fleet of ASTAR's.
Safari Helicopters on the Hawaiian islands of Kauai and Hawai'i.
Jack Harter Helicopters fly AS350s on scenic flights on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

Accidents and incidents

July 1997, a AS350 with WPVI-TV in Philadelphia crashed as it was taking off to do news reports but the pilots managed to glide it to the ground safely and walked away from it.

On 27 July 2007, two AS350s collided in mid-air while reporting a police pursuit.The two helicopters were part of KNXV-TV and KTVK television stations in Phoenix, Arizona. Four crew members were killed by this accident.

On 15 September 2007, former World Rally Championship driver Colin McRae and three passengers were killed when his AS350 B2 Squirrel, which he was piloting, crashed near Lanark, Scotland..

Specifications (AS350 B3)

Data from {Original Ecureuil article}

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Capacity: 6
Length: 12.94 m (42.45 ft)
Rotor diameter: 10.69 m (35.07 ft)
Height: 3.24 m (10.63 ft)
Empty weight: 1,241 kg (2,736 lbs)
Max takeoff weight: 2,250/2,570 kg (4,960/5,225 lbs)
Powerplant: 1× Turbomeca Arriel 2B or 2B1 turboshaft, 632 kW (847 shp)

Performance

Never exceed speed: 287 km/h (155 knots, 178 mph)
Cruise speed: 259 km/h (140 knots, 161 mph - Fast cruise (127 knots normal cruise speed).)
Range: 657 km (355 nm, 408 mi)
Service ceiling: 5,044 m (16,550 ft)
Rate of climb: 10.0 m/s (1,959 ft/min)

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

External links

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Published in July 2009.

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