OK-WIQ SNIAS AS.355F-2 Ecureuil 2 c/n 5483 - Delta System-air "LZS Krystof 18" - Liberec airfield, Czech - 14/06/1997

The Eurocopter AS.355 is a twin-engined light utility helicopter that can accommodate up to 7 passengers. Development of the Ecureuil started in the early 70s under the Aérospatiale banner with the single-engined AS 350. The first flight of an Aerospatiale AS-350 took place on 27 June 1994. A twin-engine version of the AS 350, the AS-355 Ecureuil 2 flew first on 28 September 1979. The Eucureuil 2 entered production as the AS-355E. The AS-355F with a higher max takeoff weight replaced the AS-355E early 1982 in production. The AS-355F was followed by the AS-355F-1 in January 1984 and AS-355F-2 in December 1985. The AS-355 Ecureuil 2 is marketed in North America as the "TwinStar". The helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aerospatiale from France merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group.

LZS Krystof 18 is based at Liberec airfield in the Czech republic and is operated by Delta System-air s.r.o. Their Eurocopter AS.355F-2 OK-WIQ was photographed on 14 June 1997 at Liberec aerodrome as the AIR RESCUE SERVICE - LZS Liberec - KRYSTOF 18. The SNIAS AS.355F-2 Ecureuil 2 OK-WIQ entered service with Delta System-air s.r.o. on 30 July 1997. The OK-WIQ (ex. F-WYMA; SE-JET; OK-WIQ; OM-WIQ) was operated before as an Ambulance helicopter with Norrlandsflyg AB in Sweden and with ATE-Air Transport Europe in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia. On 15 May 2006, the Ecureuil was registered I-SFLY in Italy with MPS Leasing as the owner and Star Fly, Ponte Galeria, as operator.