Airbus helicopters AS350 history

HELIHoMe history 📜 😜 : The Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) AS350 Écureuil (Squirrel) is a single-engine light utility helicopteroriginally designed and manufactured in France by Aerospatiale and Eurocopter(now Airbus Helicopters). In North America, the AS350 is marketed as the AStar. The AS355 Ecureuil 2 is a twin-engine variant, marketed in North America as the TwinStar. The Eurocopter EC130 is a derivative of the AS350 airframe and is considered by the manufacturer to be part of the Écureuil single-engine family. 📰 In the early 1970s, Aérospatiale decided to initiate a new development programme to produce a suitable replacement for the aging Aérospatiale Alouette II. While the Aérospatiale Gazelle, which had been developed in the 1960s and 1970s, had been met with numerous orders by military customers, commercial sales of the type had been less than anticipated, thus the need for a new civil-orientated development was identified. 📝 The development of the new rotorcraft, which was headed by Chief Engineer René Mouille, was focused on the production of an economic and cost-effective aerial vehicle, thus both Aérospatiale's Production and Procurement departments were heavily involved in the design process. One such measure was the use of a rolled sheet structure, a manufacturing technique adapted from the automotive industry; another innovation was the newly developed Starflex main rotor. 📖 It was also decided that both civil and military variants of the emergent helicopter would be developed to conform with established military requirements. On 27 June 1974, the first prototype, an AS350 C powered by a Lycoming LTS101 turboshaft engine, conducted its maiden flight at Marignane, France; the second prototype, powered by a Turbomeca Arriel 1A, following on 14 February 1975. The Arriel-powered version, the AS350B, intended for sale throughout the world except for North America, was certified in France on 27 October 1977, while the Lycoming powered AS350C (or AStar) was certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration on 21 December 1977. In March 1978, deliveries to customers began for the AS350B, deliveries of the AS350C began in April 1978. One of three AS350 news helicopters of ABS-CBN network in a hangar in Mactan-Cebu International Airport, note the 5-axis gimbal HD camera and a transmitter Over time, the AS350 Écureuil/AStar has received further development; while the aircraft's design remains broadly similar, various aspects and systems such as the rotor system, powerplants, and avionics have been progressively improved. On 6 February 1987, a prototype AS350 B2 flew with a fenestron tail-rotor in the place of its normal conventional counterpart. 📚 On 1 March 1997, the first AS350 B3, equipped with an Arriel 2B engine, performed its first flight. Various conversion programs and addons for AS350s have been produced and are offered by multiple third-party 'aftermarket' aerospace firms in addition to those available directly from the type's prime manufacturer. New variants of the Arriel-powered AS350B, the AS350 B1, AS350 B2, and AS350 B3, were progressively introduced; the later B3 differing from preceding models by the increasing use of digital systems, such as the Garmin-built G500H avionics suite and FADEC engine control system. Prior to 2013, the type had been manufactured principally at Eurocopter's Marignane facility, near Marseille, France; Eurocopter opted to, as part of a move to disperse its helicopter production activities, begin AS350 production and final assembly activities at its factory in Columbus, Mississippi for deliveries to U.S. commercial helicopter market. The Astar has been Eurocopter's biggest-selling product in the US commercial market, at one point selling roughly one AS350 every business day. In March 2015, the first Columbus-assembled AS350 B3e received its FAA certification. In December 2015, Airbus Helicopters reported their intention to double the rate of AS350 production at Columbus in 2016 over the previous year, and that the facility is capable of producing up to 65 AS350s per year. 🚁 AS350 Prototype. AS350 Firefighter Fire fighting version. AS350B Powered by one Turbomeca Arriel 1B engine. AS350 B1 Improved version of the original AS350B, which is powered by one Arriel 1D engine, type also fitted with AS355 main rotor blades, AS355 tail rotor with tabs and a tail rotor servo. AS350 B2 Higher gross weight version powered by one Arriel 1D1 engine over the B1 version with aerodynamic strake fitted to tail boom along the starboard side and angled engine exhaust duct for better yaw control. AS350 B3 High-performance version, is powered by an Arriel 2B engine equipped with a single channel (DECU) Digital Engine Control Unit with a mechanical backup system. This helicopter is the first ever to land on the summit of Mount Everest. AS350 B3/2B1 variant introduces enhanced engine with dual channel (FADEC) Full Authority Digital Engine Control, dual hydraulics and a 2,370 kg (5,225 lb) Maximum Take Off Weight. AS350 B3e (introduced late 2011) equipped with the Arriel 2D engine. AS350 BA Powered by a Arriel 1B engine and fitted with wider chord AS355 main rotor blades and tail rotor servo. 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 Arriel 1D1 engine to improve the helicopters' life cycle. Eurocopter Squirrel HT.1 Designation of AS350BB in operation with British Military, through the Defence Helicopter Flying School as a training helicopter. Eurocopter Squirrel HT.2 Designation of AS350BB in operation with British Army Air Corps as a training helicopter, based at Middle Wallop. 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 510kW (684shp) Turbomeca Arriel 1D turboshaft engine. Superseded by AS350 L2. AS350 L2 Military derivative of AS350 B2, powered by a 546 kW (732shp) 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. ⚒ General characteristics * Crew: 1 * Capacity: 5 * Length: 10.93 m (35 ft 10½ in) * Rotor diameter: 10.7 m (35 ft 1 in) * Height: 3.14 m (10 ft 3½ in) * Disc area: 89.75 m² (966.1 sq ft) * Empty weight: 1,174 kg (2,588 lb) * Max. takeoff weight: 2,250 kg (4,960 lb) * Powerplant: 1 × Turbomeca Arriel 2Bturboshaft, 632 kW (847 shp) Performance * Never exceed speed: 287 km/h (155 knots, 178 mph) * Cruise speed: 245 km/h (132 knots, 152 mph) * Range: 662 km (357 nmi, 411 mi) * Endurance: 4.1 hrs * Service ceiling: 4,600 m (15,100 ft) * Rate of climb: 8.5 m/s (1,675 ft/min) AvionicsVehicle and Engine Monitoring Display (VEMD) with First Limit Indicator (FLI) fitted as standard. † 4, 5, & 6 passengers options available. The 6 passenger configuration is a relatively uncommon high-density seating option that replaces one front seat with a two-person bench and relocates the pilot to the left side of the cockpit. 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