D-HHTS Eurocopter EC135P2 c/n 0381 - ADAC Luftrettung "Christoph Europa 2" - Rotterdam Airport, Holland - 31 May 2008

The EC 135 is a lightweight five/seven seat twin-turbine-engine multi-role helicopter with a radius of 720 km. The EC 135 is offered with either Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 or Pratt and Whitney Canada PW206B2 engines. Development of the Eurocopter EC135 started in the 80s as the MBB Bo.108 Advanced Technology Helicopter. The prototype BO108 with conventional tail rotor flew first on 15 October 1988. When the helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aerospatiale from France merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group, the Bo108 program was transferred as well. An advanced low noise ducted 10-blade Fenestron tail rotor was, next to other modifications, incorporated into the design and the name of the helicopter was changed into Eurocopter EC135. The prototype of the EC135 (D-HBOX s/n S-01) flew first on 15 February 1994 and went into series production at Donauwörth in 1996. After German certification was granted on 14 June 1996, was the first customer delivery on 31 July that year. Over 600 have been delivered since the helicopter entered service in 1996 with the German rescue company DRF - Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht e.V.

On 31 May 2008, Eurocopter EC135P2 D-HHTS was photographed at the helipad of the helistation of "Lifeliner 2" at Rotterdam Airport in the Netherlands. The EC135 P2 replaced at that time EC135 T2 PH-ULP as "Lifeliner 2". MMT (Mobil Medical Team) "Lifeliner 2" is based at Rotterdam Airport and uses also the helideck of the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam. The 2005-built Eurocopter EC-135 P2 D-HHTS was registered on 26 January 2005 and delivered to the ADAC Luftrettung GmbH in Germany. EC135P2 D-HHTS is used to operate as "Christoph Europe 2" stationed at the ADAC-Luftrettungszentrum Rheine located near the "Mathias-Hospital" in Rheine, Germany. Callsign "Christoph" is used for the German lifeliner helicopters since 1970 and is derived of Saint Christophorus, the Patron Saint for all travellers. The 4 EMS-helicopters in the Netherlands are: "Lifeliner 1" stationed in Amsterdam, "Lifeliner 2" stationed in Rotterdam; "Lifeliner 3" stationed in Nijmegen and "Lifeliner Europe 4" stationed in Groningen. ANWB Medical Air Assistance operates, next to the four lifeliners helicopters, an EMS-helicopter for crew training and as spare aircraft for maintenance cover of the lifeliners. This EC135 T2+ c/n 0532 is registered PH-MAA.