Eurocopter EC 155
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| EC 155 | |
|---|---|
 Eurocopter EC 155 B1 at Paris Air Show 2007 |
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| Type | Passenger Transport Helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Eurocopter Group |
| Maiden flight | 17 June 1997 |
| Introduced | March 1999 |
| Unit cost | US$10 million |
| Developed from | Eurocopter Dauphin |
| Variants | Eurocopter EC175 |
The Eurocopter EC 155 is a long-range medium-lift passenger transport helicopter developed by Eurocopter from the Dauphin family for civil aviation use. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up to 13 passengers along with 2 crew, depending on customer configuration. The helicopter is marketed for passenger transport, VIP corporate transport and casualty transport duties.
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[edit] Development
The EC 155 is based on the Eurocopter AS 365N Dauphin 2 and was originally called the AS 365N4 during development with the aim of significantly increasing the cabin space of the Dauphin. Development began in September 1996 with the helicopter officially announced by Eurocopter at the Paris Air Show in June 1997. The first EC 155 helicopter, a rebuilt Dauphin, made its maiden flight at Marignane on 17th June 1997 and the first pre-production EC 155 B flew on 11th March 1998. It received safety certification by the French & German Civil Aviation Authorities on 11th December 1998 and went into production soon after with a price tag of US$ 7-8 million, depending on installed equipment. Deliveries of the EC 155 B began in March 1999, with the German Federal Police becoming the first operator.
The EC 155 B1 was developed with more powerful engines and has improved performance at high altitude and in hot temperature conditions. Deliveries of this model began in November 2002 with the Hong Kong Government Flying Service becoming the first operator.
[edit] Design
The EC 155 B features a completely redesigned cabin providing 40% more internal space than previous Dauphin helicopter models. Other major improvements include a five-blade composite main rotor combined with the familiar shrouded Fenestron tail rotor to reduce vibration levels significantly. The EC 155 B is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2C1 turboshaft engines mounted over the cabin, which feature a dual-channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system. 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 integrated digital flight control system featuring Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Displays.
Eurocopter designed the EC 155 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 either 4 patients on stretchers with 2 seated medical staff, or 2 stretchered patients with 4 seated medical staff. The new configurations are designed 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
[edit] Variants
- EC 155 - The first prototype rebuilt from a Dauphin.
- EC 155 B - The first production version, powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2C1 turboshaft engines.
- EC 155 B1 - A more powerful model equipped with two Turbomeca Arriel 2C2 turboshaft engines.
[edit] Operators
Template:INR
- 3 EC 155 B1's with Global Vectra Helicorp Limited, India's largest helicopter operator. Used for offshore and corporate purposes. Photo is of Global Vectra's EC 155 B1 at the Paris Air Show
- 4 EC 155 B1's in service with Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) and used for offshore operations to ferry workers to and from Caspian Sea oil rigs, and to transport passengers.[1]
- 2 EC 155 B1's in service with CITIC Offshore Helicopter Corporation and used to support an offshore platform in the South China Sea. The two helicopters were purchased for US$24.7 million in 2004.[2]
- 1 ordered by the Shanghai Public Security Bureau in 2007, to be used for police air patrol and reconnaissance missions in Shanghai.[3]
- 15 EC 155 B's in service with the Bundespolizei (German Federal Police) and based with their Police Helicopter Squadron in Baden-Württemberg.[5]
- 1 in service with Heli Unionair in the VIP 4-8 seat configuration, with tables plus a bar, based in Nuremberg and used for charter across Europe.[6]
- 4 EC 155 B1's in service with the Hong Kong Government Flying Service based at the International Airport and used for government missions. (Originally bought 5, but one (tail number B-HRX) crashed in 2003.) [7][8]
- 1 EC 155 B1 in service with Heli Air Monaco / Monacair in a 6-seater VIP configuration, used for VIP flights and passenger transport from the heliport in Monaco.[9]
- 6 EC 155 B's in service with Shell Nigeria in the 12-seat passenger configuration and used to transport personnel and materials supporting oil & gas activities in Nigeria. The helicopters are also equipped with a Health & Usage Monitoring System, external life rafts and provisions for SAR duties, such as a hoist, FLIR and search light equipment.[10]
- 2 EC 155 B1's in service with the Royal Thai Police in the VIP configuration and based at their headquarters in Bangkok. The two helicopters cost €21 million in 2004 and are used to transport VIPs.[12]
- 1 owned by Fred Drasner, co-publisher of the New York Daily News and CEO of U.S. News & World Report, in the corporate configuration.
- 1 owned by Wayne Huizenga, owner of the Miami Dolphins.[13]
[edit] Specifications (EC 155 B1)
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: 12 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: 2,619 kg (5,774 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 turboshafts, 697 kW (948 shp) each
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 324 km/h (175 kts)
- Maximum speed: 324 km/h (175 kts)
- Cruise speed: 280 km/h (151 kts)
- Range: 857 km (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
Comparable aircraft
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 EC 135 and EC 155
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - HELI UNIONAIR Purchases Super-VIP EC 155 For Charter Throughout Europe
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - The Hong Kong Government Flying Service Receives The Last Of Its Five EC 155 B1 Helicopters
- ^ Aircraft Accident Report 1/2006, Civil Aviation Department, Hong Kong Government
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - Eurocopter Delivers An EC155 B1 Helicopter To The Principality Of Monaco
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - Shell Petroleum Development Company Ltd. Receives Its First EC 155 B
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - A Successful 2003 For Eurocopter
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - Two EC 155 B1s For The Royal Thai Police
- ^ Aviation Week News - Eurocopter Claims Strong Sales, Wants To Do Better In Business
- ^ Eurocopter EC 155 B1 Technical Data. Retrieved on 2007-07-15.
[edit] External links
- 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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