D-HAAK Aerospatiale SA.365 C3 Dauphin 2 c/n 5039 - "Christoph Reichelsheim" - Reichelsheim, Germany - 07 June 2004

The Eurocopter AS.365N Dauphin 2 is a twin-engined medium-weight transport helicopter for up to 2 crew and 13 passengers powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 1C2 Turbine engines. The twin-engine SA.365 was developed in 1973 by SNIAS (Société Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale) out of the single-engine SA.360 Dauphin. The SA.365 prototype F-WVKE, a SA.360 fitted with 2 Turbomeca Arriel 1A Turboshafts, flew first on 24 January 1975. In 1977 production commenced with the SA.365-C, with deliveries starting in 1978. An improved version of the SA 365C Dauphin 2, the SA.365N flew first on 31 March 1979. The SA 365N differs from the SA365C in having Arriel 1C turbine engines, a re-profiled fuselage, fully retractable undercarriage and increased fuel capacity in new under-floor tankage. Deliveries of the production model began in 1982. Deliveries of the AS.365 N2, equipped with two Turboméca Arriel 1C2 turboshafts, started in 1990. From 1984, SNIAS operated under the name of Aérospatiale. The helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aerospatiale from France merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group. A new Eurocopter designation was added: EC 155 B1, originally known as the AS 365 N4. The Dauphin 2 is in use in several military and civilian roles. The AS 565 Panther is the military version of the Dauphin. The AS 366 G1, powered by two Textron-Lycoming LTS.101-750B-2 turboshafts, is used by the United States Coast Guard under the designation HH-65A Dolphin. The Dauphin 2 is manufactured under licence in China as the Harbin Z-9 Haitung and in Brasil as the Helibras MH-1. Already over 750 AS 365/366/565 and EC155 versions have been produced.

On 7 June 2004, the ITH (Intensivtransporthubschrauber) SNIAS AS.365 C3 D-HAAK "Christoph Reichelsheim" was photographed at Reichelsheim Airport in the Wetterau in Germany: the base of Luftrettungszentrum Reichelsheim. The D‑HAAK is operated by Heli-Flight GmbH & Co.KG.as "Christoph Reichelsheim" since 1 July 2002. On 28 April 2006, the ITH "Christoph Reichelsheim" was renamed "Christoph Hessen". The call sign "Christoph" is used for the German lifeliner helicopters since 1970 and is derived of Saint Christophorus, the Patron Saint for all travellers. The 1978-built SA.365 C3 D-HAAK is operated by Heli-Flight since February 1995. It was originally delivered as a SA.365C-1 and registered as YR‑DFD. In November 1988, it was registered in Germany as D‑HAAK by Arcus-Air Logistic GmbH, Köln/Bonn as a SA.365C-3 Dauphin 2. In March 2007, the D-HAAK was replaced in service as "Christoph Hessen" by the AS365N D-HFHE. In May 2007, the D-HAAK received new colours and is operated as before by Heli-Flight out of Reichelsheim.