Eurocopter AS355

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) AS355 Ecureuil 2 (Twin Squirrel) is a twin-engine light helicopter originally manufactured by Aérospatiale in France (later part of Eurocopter Group, now Airbus Helicopters). 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

AS355N Twin Squirrel
Royal Malaysian Police Air Wing Unit's AS355N Twin Squirrel.
AS355F1 Ecureuil 2
BBC News AS355 G-TVHD
AS 355N in 2006
AS355
Prototype of the twin-engined Ecureuil 2 or Twin Squirrel.
AS355 E
Initial production version, with single hydraulics, powered by two Allison 250-C20F turboshaft engines.
AS355 F
Improved version, with dual hydraulics and increased maximum weight of 2,300 kg (5,070 lb).
AS355 F1
Powered by two Allison 250-C20F engines, 2,400 kg (5,291 lb) Maximum weight.
AS355 F2
Powered by two Allison 250-C20F engines, 2,540 kg (5,600 lb) Maximum weight and a yaw compensation system.
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 Superseded by AS555 Fennec.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, 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

The AS355 is used by both private individuals and companies, helicopter charter and training organizations as well as law enforcement and government use.

Military and government operators

 Algeria
 Belarus
  • Border Guard [5]
 Brazil
 Cambodia
 Canada
 Chile
 Djibouti
 Jamaica
 Malawi
  • Malawi Army
 Malaysia
 New Zealand
 Russia
 Rwanda
 Uruguay
 United States

Former operators

 Bophuthatswana
 Ireland
West Midlands Police's G-WMPA

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.[19]
  • 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.[20] All three crew - the pilot, Graham Budden, and two paramedics, Tony Richardson and Mark Darby - were killed on impact.[21]
  • 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..[22]
VH-NTV in December 2010
  • On 18 August 2011, a AS-355F-2 (reg No/ VH-NTV) crashed near Lake Eyre in South Australia resulting in 3 fatalities.[23] 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.[24]
  • 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.[25]

Specifications (AS355F2)

Cockpit of AS355 F1 Ecureuil 2

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89[26]

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[27] (5,732 lbs)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Allison 250-C20F turboshaft, 313 kW (420 shp) each

Performance

  • Never exceed speed: 278 km/h (150 knots, 172 mph)
  • Cruise speed: 224 km/h (121 knots, 139 mph)
  • Range: 703 km (380 nm, 437 mi)
  • Service ceiling: 3,400 m (11,150 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 6.5 m/s (1,280 ft/min)

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

Citations

  1. ↑ http://62.160.110.229/jrotor/73/latinamerica.html#I0000f69b
  2. ↑ Taylor 1988, p.61.
  3. ↑ Eurocopter Press Release - Eurocopter Upgrades Its Most Affordable Twin, The AS355 Ecureuil/TwinStar
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 "World Air Forces 2013". Flightglobal Insight. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  5. ↑ "Государственный пограничный комитет вооружается европейскими вертолетами". .tut.by. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  6. ↑ "Ontario Provincial Police upgrade from AS355F2 to EC135P2+". helihub.com. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  7. ↑ "Ontario Provincial Police AS-355F". Demand media. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  8. ↑ "JDF AS-355". jdfmil.org. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  9. ↑ "JDF Eurocopter AS-355". Demand media. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  10. ↑ "Royal Malaysian Police wants more helicopters". helihub.com. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  11. ↑ "NZ Civil Aircraft". nzcivair .com. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  12. ↑ "Russian Military Plans to Buy Foreign Helicopters". rian.ru. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  13. ↑ "Eurocopter AS-355N Ecureuil 2 Ministry of the Interior". Demand media. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  14. ↑ "World's Air Forces 2004 Pg 83". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  15. ↑ "Aviación Naval Uruguaya". Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  16. ↑ "AS355 NP Overview". eurocopterusa.com. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  17. ↑ "World's Air Forces 1987 pg. 28". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  18. ↑ "About the Air Support Unit". garda.ie. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  19. ↑ "Pilot disorientated on impact". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-09-17. 
  20. ↑ "Bulletin No:2/2000 Aerospatiale AS355 F1 Ecureuil II G-MASK". Air Accident Investigation Board. 
  21. ↑ "UK Helicopter crash kills three". BBC News. 1998-07-27. Retrieved 4 January 2010. 
  22. ↑ "Millionaire Chelsea fan and his son die in helicopter crash". Daily Mail. May 2, 2007. Retrieved August 15, 2010. 
  23. ↑ "Collision with terrain - Aérospatiale Industries helicopter, VH-NTV, near Lake Eyre, SA, 18 August 2011". Australian Transport Safety Bureau. 19 August 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011. 
  24. ↑ "ABC chopper crash probe could take a year". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 19 August 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011. 
  25. ↑ Helicopter crash in Belarus kills 5
  26. ↑ Taylor 1988, pp.60—62.
  27. ↑ Max slung load

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eurocopter Ecureuil.
Civil helicopters
Military helicopters
Experimental helicopters
Fixed-wing aircraft
Helicopters
Other products
Missiles:
Space-related:
Lists relating to aviation
General
Military
Accidents/incidents
Records
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.