Eurocopter AS355
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.
Variants
Twin engine
- 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 Superseded by AS555 Fennec.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
- Assembled in Brazil by Helibras (part of Eurocopter).
- HB.355N Esquilo Bi
- Assembled 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
- Mexico
- Mexico City Police Department, Condores Operates AS 355N
Civilian operators
- 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
- Raymond Ltd. ( Aviation Div.)
- Sahara Helicopters (Helicopter Div.)
- Liechtenstein
- Philippines
- United States
- AirMed/Gold Cross EMS operates one TwinStar medical evacuation helicopter.[23]
- Slovakia
- Norway
- European Helicopter Center operates one AS355N
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.[24]
- 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.[25] All three crew - the pilot, Graham Budden, and two paramedics, Tony Richardson and Mark Darby - were killed on impact.[26] The crash was ultimately attributed to mechanical failure.[27][28]
- In May 2007, Chelsea Football Club Vice President Philip Carter, founder of training company Carter and Carter, crashed in his part-owned Twin Squirrel registration G-BYPA returning from Liverpool John Lennon Airport after watching Chelsea play Liverpool F.C..[29]
- On 18 August 2011, a AS-355F-2 (reg No/ VH-NTV) crashed near Lake Eyre in South Australia resulting in 3 fatalities.[30] The Helicopter was owned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. On board were, Gary Ticehurst (abc chief helicopter pilot for 25 years), John Bean (cameraman) and Paul Lockyer (journalist). All three had 20 years or more experience working for the ABC.[31]
- On 20 October 2011, the Eurocopter twin-engine helicopter crashed at 3:45 p.m. (1245 GMT) near the village of Vileity and burst into flames. A Belarus border patrol helicopter crashed Thursday near the Lithuanian border, killing all five people on board, including three members of a television crew, the agency said.[32]
Specifications (AS355F2)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89[33]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 6
- Length: 12.94 m (42 ft 5½ in)
- Rotor diameter: 10.69 m (35 ft 0¾ in)
- Height: 3.14 m (10 ft 3½ in)
- Disc area: 89.75 m² (966 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 1,305 kg (2,877 lbs)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,540 kg[34] (5,732 lbs)
- Powerplant: 2 × Allison 250-C20F turboshaft, 313 kW (420 shp) each
Performance
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
References
- ^ http://62.160.110.229/jrotor/73/latinamerica.html#I0000f69b
- ^ Taylor 1988, p.61.
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - Eurocopter Upgrades Its Most Affordable Twin, The AS355 Ecureuil/TwinStar
- ^ Algerian Air Force Order of Battle. Scramble. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
- ^ Brazilian Air Force Order of Battle Scramble. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
- ^ Brazilian Navy Order of Battle Scramble. 11 May 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
- ^ Flight 11–17 November 2008, p.54.
- ^ Flight 11–17 November 2008, p.58.
- ^ Flight 11–17 November 2008, p.59.
- ^ Flight 11–17 November 2008, p.66.
- ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
- ^ a b c Flight 11–17 November 2008, p.76.
- ^ Flugpolizei Website (German!)
- ^ Belarusian News Agency BELTA - Ecureuil landed in Minsk-1 (Russian)
- ^ The State Boundary Committee arms with the European helicopters.
- ^ An Garda Síochána - Air Support Unit
- ^ http://www.phototour.minneapolis.mn.us/philippines/philippines_transportation/5812
- ^ Kuensel Newspaper - Domestic helicopter service picks up
- ^ DAP Helicópteros webpage
- ^ http://www.aerial-filming.co.uk
- ^ http://www.cabairhelicopters.com
- ^ http://www.swissheli.com/history/hb-zde.htm
- ^ http://www.airmedga.com
- ^ "Pilot disorientated on impact". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/35087.stm. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
- ^ "Bulletin No:2/2000 Aerospatiale AS355 F1 Ecureuil II G-MASK". Air Accident Investigation Board. http://www.aaib.gov.uk/sites/aaib/cms_resources/dft_avsafety_pdf_500724.pdf.
- ^ "UK Helicopter crash kills three". BBC News. 1998-07-27. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/139680.stm. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
- ^ "Air ambulance crash pilot cleared". BBC News. 19 February 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3504239.stm. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
- ^ "Review of pilot death - Graham Budden". Aviation Watch. 1998. http://www.aviationwatch.co.uk/memoriam2.php?p=7.
- ^ "Millionaire Chelsea fan and his son die in helicopter crash". Daily Mail. May 2, 2007. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-452157/Millionaire-Chelsea-fan-son-die-helicopter-crash.html. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
- ^ "Collision with terrain - Aérospatiale Industries helicopter, VH-NTV, near Lake Eyre, SA, 18 August 2011". Australian Transport Safety Bureau. 19 August 2011. http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2011/aair/ao-2011-102.aspx. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ^ "ABC chopper crash probe could take a year". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 19 August 2011. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-19/investigators-head-to-abc-chopper-crash-site/2847074. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ^ Helicopter crash in Belarus kills 5
- ^ Taylor 1988, pp.60—62.
- ^ Max slung load
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