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The Eurocopter EC135 is a lightweight five/seven seat twin-turbine-engine multi-role helicopter with a radius of 720 km.
The EC135 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 in 1996 at Donauwörth. After
German certification was granted on 14 June 1996, was the first customer delivery on 31 July that year. Over
1050 have been delivered since the helicopter entered service in 1996 with the German rescue company DRF - Deutsche
Rettungsflugwacht e.V. |
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RTH (Rettungstransporthubschrauber) Eurocopter EC135 P1 D-HKUG "Christoph 32" of ADAC-Luftrettung GmbH was
photographed at the helipad of the ADAC-Luftrettungszentrum Berlin in Germany. The D-HKUG replaced at that time the EC135 T1 D-HEUR as
"Christoph 31". 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 RTH facilities at the Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, were opened on 1
September 1987. Today this location, located in Steglitz, is known as Charité Berlin - Campus Benjamin Franklin.
The ADAC-Luftrettung helicopter in service as "Christoph 31" was the MBB BO.105 until the type was replaced by the EC135 on 14 November 2001.
The 1999-built Eurocopter EC135P1 c/n 0090 D-HKUG (ex D-HECF) was registered in April 1999. In 2012, Eurocopter EC135 P1 D-HKUG was sold to Western Power Distribution
for their WPD Helicopter Unit. After maintenance and fitment of high-intensity strobe lights, the helicopter was registered G-WPDC with
South Western Helicopters trading as WPD Helicopter Unit, Bristol, UK, on 27 June 2012. |
Luchtvaart déjà vu
