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Airbus Helicopters EC120 B Colibri

The Airbus Helicopters EC120 B Colibri is a 5-seat light utility helicopter powered by a single Turbomeca Arrius 2F turbine engine. The EC 120 B Colibri, also known as Hummingbird, was developed with simplicity of design and low costs of maintenance in mind. It makes extensive use of composite materials and modern avionics. The new generation of fenestron tail rotor takes part in the decrease in external noise level, which makes the EC120 B ideal for missions near settled areas. The project started in 1990 when Aerospatiale of France, CATIC of China and Singapore Aerospace agreed in forming a partnership to develop a new light helicopter, then designated P-120L. Definition phase of the original P120L was subsequently redesigned with 500 kg lower gross weight and new engine and rotor. The helicopter divisions of Aerospatiale from France and MBB from Germany merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group. In October 1992, development of the new helicopter started and in January 1993, Eurocopter designation EC 120 was given to the helicopter. Mid-1993, the design definition was completed and assembly of first of two prototypes began at Eurocopter France at Marignane in early 1995. Eurocopter EC120 prototype F-WWPA c/n 1 flew first on 9 June 1995. The second prototype (F-WWPD c/n 2) was flown 17 July 1996. Certification to JAR 27 was achieved on 16 June 1997. Production of the EC 120 began on a small scale in 1997 at Eurocopter France's Marignane facility, with the first production Colibri (F-WWPL c/n 1005) flying on 5 December 1997. The airframes are made in China and the final assembly line of the EC120 is at the Eurocopter Marignane factory in France. Next to the final assembly of the EC120 in France, a number of helicopters were assembled in Australia and Brazil. In 2006, Regourd Aviation in France obtained EASA certification for the modified EC120 "Voyager", an EC120 with auto-pilot, glass cockpit & integrated avionics. On 6 November 2015, Airbus Helicopters started flight tests with the H120 demonstrator F-WMXC powered by a cleaner, more efficient 4.6-liter high-compression diesel engine in place of the Turbomeca Arrius 2F turboshaft. These test flights were part of the European Clean Sky initiative’s Green Rotorcraft Integrated Technology Demonstrator (ITD) program that started in 2011. In addition to Airbus Helicopters, the project involved TEOS Powertrain Engineering and Austro Engine. Since March 2015, Airbus Helicopters uses “H120” as marketing designation for the EC120 B helicopters. Serial production of the Airbus Helicopters H120, originally the Eurocopter EC120 B, has officially ended. The last H120 helicopter on order was delivered in September 2017. Over 700 single-engine H120 Colibris have been delivered in more than 50 countries with more than 400 operators. The decision to stop production of the H120 was the result of Airbus Helicopters’ strategy to focus on markets where high-end technologies bring the most value to customers. The company therefore concentrate on further developing its offer in the intermediate single-engine segment with the H125 and H130 through continuous improvements of these two best-seller types.
In 2023 Airbus Helicopters launched new upgrades for the H120 such as new avionics, skidshoes and free Halon fire extinguishers.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for both the EC120 or H120 and the HC120 is EC20.

On 11 June 2004, a contract was signed to set up a second assembly line in Harbin, China, to manufacture the EC120 helicopter. The Chinese EC 120, built by HAI - Harbin Aviation Industries Co., Ltd. (Hafei Aviation), part of AviChina Industry & Technology Company Ltd., is designated HC120 for the Chinese domestic market as well as the army's pilot training. China ordered 150 HC120 helicopters for the Army Aviation Unit (AAU). The assembly line in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjian Province, is capable of producing 20 HC-120 helicopters a year. The first HC120 of this assembly line was flown first on 29 December 2004.

As a result of the merger between the Eurocopter parents Aérospatiale-Matra; DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (DASA) and Construcciones Aeronàuticas Sociedad Anonima (CASA) in July 2000, the Eurocopter group became a division of the new formed EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space company). Taking off into 2014, EADS was rebranded as "Airbus Group". Uniting all its activities under a single brand, its helicopter division Eurocopter was rebranded as Airbus Helicopters on 8 January 2014.

Airbus Helicopters EC120 B c/n 01 - 1050  1051 - 1100  1101 - 1150  1151 - 1200  1201 - 1250  1251 - 1300   1301 - 1350  1351 - 1400  1401 - 1500  1501 - 1600  1601 - 1700
HAI HC120 productionlist
Attention!!!   All the above data are informative only. The webmaster takes no guarantee of their validity. 
Click on any of the images for the larger version and extended historic info!
D-HUAE D-HUNT
D-HJMB D-HKDV D-HKLE D-HMKI D-HOER D-HRIK D-HUAE D-HUNT F-HALB F-HFLB
G-IZOB G-OMEM
G-EMCM G-IZOB G-IZOB G-OMEM G-TBLY G-TGGR G-ZWAR G-ZZOE LN-ORE N120VP
  OK-AMS OK-EUP OM-MAY OO-DTE
N263CP N555GJ OK-AMS OK-EUP OM-MAY OO-DTE OO-ECB OO-EYP OO-EYP PH-ECD
PH-ECD PH-HCH
PH-ECD PH-ECD PH-ECE PH-ECE PH-ECE PH-ECK PH-ECM PH-ECR PH-EVR PH-HCH
PH-HHW PH-JSB PH-KGJ PH-PDK
PH-HED PH-HHL PH-HHW PH-JSB PH-KGJ PH-KGJ PH-LPH PH-LPH PH-PDK PH-RBC
PH-UNN
PH-RBC PH-UNN PH-UNN PH-UNN PH-UNN PH-VIS PH-WRW PH-WRW PH-WRW PH-WRW
UR-WEL
RA-04042 RA-04114 RA-04115 SX-HVF UR-WEL UR-WEL ZS-RZZ ZS-RZZ SpanAF HE.25-3 SpanAF HE.25-8
                 
SpanAF HE.25-9                  
 
Airbus Helicopters EC120 B c/n 01 - 1050  1051 - 1100  1101 - 1150  1151 - 1200  1201 - 1250  1251 - 1300   1301 - 1350  1351 - 1400  1401 - 1500  1501 - 1600  1601 - 1700
HAI HC120 productionlist
Attention!!!   All the above data are informative only. The webmaster takes no guarantee of their validity. 
To keep the EC120 - H120 production list up to date: please send Your updates to the contact adress

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page last updated: 12-03-2024
Copyright © Jack Wolbrink, Emmen, the Netherlands
 

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