Eurocopter EC 130
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| EC 130 | |
|---|---|
 One of the Long Beach Police Department's EC 130B4 helicopters refuels at Rialto, California. |
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| Type | Light utility |
| Manufacturer | Eurocopter |
| Maiden flight | 24 June 1999 |
| Introduced | 2001 |
| Developed from | Eurocopter Ecureuil |
The Eurocopter EC 130 is a light helicopter developed from the AS 350 Ecureuil airframe.
Contents |
[edit] Design and development
The EC 130B is a modern single-engine variant that first flew on 24 June 1999. Initially introduced to the market in 2001 for a tour operator, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, 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. The EC130 features much more cockpit glass than the AS350 which makes it popular with tour operators. Despite the introduction of the EC130, production of the Eurocopter AS 350 and AS 355, and the AS 550 and AS 555 Fennec military versions remains strong.
[edit] Variants
- EC 130 B4
- Based on the AS350B3 with a widened canopy, tail boom and undercarriage of an EC120 allowing excellent cockpit visibility and fenestron tail rotor for safety and noise reduction. Powered by a Turbomeca Arriel 2B1 equipped with a FADEC Full Authority Digital Engine Control.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Law Enforcement operators
- Long Beach Police Department uses two Eurocopter EC-130B4 helicopters.
[edit] Civilian operators
- The Adelaide Bank Rescue Helicopter Service operates an EC 130B 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.
- 1x EC 130 B4 in service with Johann Lafer's Heli Gourmet service which combines helicopter travel with an outdoor eating
experience.[1]
- 1x EC 130B4 in service with Over The Top, a helicopter tour company based in Queenstown.[2]
- 4x EC 130B in service with Heli Holland.
- 1x EC 130B in service with Falcon Aviation Services and 2 more ordered in 2007.[3]
[edit] Specifications (AS350B3 for comparison)
Data from {Original Ecureuil article}
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 6
- Length: 12.94 m (42.46 ft)
- Rotor diameter: 10.69 m (35.06 ft)
- Height: 3.14 m (10.96 ft)
- Empty weight: 1,232 kg (2,917 lbs)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,250 kg (4,960 lbs)
- Powerplant: 1× Turbomeca Arriel 2B turboshaft, 632 kW (847 shp)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 287 km/h (155 knots, 178 mph)
- Maximum speed: km/h (knots, mph)
- Cruise speed: 259 km/h (140 knots, 161 mph)
- Range: 652 km (352 nm, 405 mi)
- Service ceiling 5,280 m (17,323 ft)
- Rate of climb: 10.3 m/s (2,028 ft/min)
[edit] References
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
Related development
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