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The Eurocopter EC155 B is a medium-weight multi-role utility twin
engine helicopter accommodating up to 12 passengers and 2 crew. The EC155 B is a development of the
AS 365N Dauphin 2, with 40% larger cabin
area, a new five-bladed Spheriflex main rotor with an extremely low
vibration level and 'glass cockpit'. The EC155 B1 is powered by a pair
of Turbomeca Arrius 2C2 turbine engines. The new generation of Fenestron
tail rotor takes part in the decrease in external noise level. This tail
rotor has 10 blades spaced irregularly around the hub. Development
of the EC-155, initially known as AS-365N-4 Dauphin started
in September 1996. The development of the AS365 N4 wide body helicopter
was announced at International Paris Airshow in June 1997. A mockup of
the AS365 N4 was shown at the International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget and on 17 June 1997,
the prototype EC155, F-WDFK, a rebuilt Dauphin, flew first at Marignane. The first pre-poduction EC155
B flew on 11 March 1998. The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) and
the German Government Agencies (LBA) certification was awarded in December
1998 and the EC 155 got its single-pilot IFR certificate on 25 January 2000.
The first three Eurocopter EC 155 Bs were officially handed over to the German
Federal Ministry of the Interior / Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS) at the Bonn-Hangelaar
base of the BGS on 16 March 1999. The EC155 B1 is a development
of the EC155 B with more powerful engines and improved performance at high altitude
and in hot temperature conditions. Deliveries of the EC 155B1 version began in September 2002.
More than 120 EC155 helicopters have been sold. |
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In May 2000, Eurocopter France was permited to fly the 2000-built
Eurocopter EC155 B s/n 6557 with test-registration F-WJFJ. In June 2000,
registration F-GJFJ was allotted to Eurocopter France for the aircraft,
but registration F-GJFJ was not taken up. The helicoptert was sold to
Fireblade Investments Ltd. in South-Africa and delivered by the end of
July 2000 to Air Hanson Engineering Ltd., Blackbushe, UK, for completion
in a corporate vip configuration. At Air Hanson Engineering, the EC155
received a state of the art avionics system, and technology to allow
various seat permutations: four or six club seats, and eight or 12
utility seats. On 3 October 2000, the Eurocopter EC155B was registered
ZS-RLI in South-Africa with Fire Blade Investments Ltd., Marshalltown.
In May 2007, Eurocopter EC155B ZS-RLI was ferried to Eurocopter Germany
at Kassel-Calden via Milan and Stuttgart and offered for sale in
Germany. Registration ZS-RLI was cancelled on 5 June 2007. Permit to fly
issue for registration D-HLEW was given on 5 July 2007. The permit to
fly issue was renewed on 17 September 2007. On 8 February 2008, the
aircraft was seen at Kassel dual registered D-HLEW / VT-JUA as the
aircraft should go to Jupiter Aviation & Logistics (JAL), Bangalore,
India. Jupiter had signed a letter of intent with EADS for acquiring two
Eurocopter EC155 helicopters to be used for fractional ownership and
charter service venture. The sale fell through and EC155 B D-HLEW
remained at the Eurocopter Germany facilities at Kassel-Calden. On 24
March 2010, Eurocopter EC155B D-HLEW was registered and transferred to
Heli Aviation GmbH, Augsburg. In June 2010, EC155B Dauphin 2 D-HLEW was
seen with large AVINCO titles during the ILA at Berlin-Schönefeld. At
that time LGM Luftfahrt GmbH was given as operator. In July 2010, Heli
Aviation GmbH, Wallerstein, began a co-operation with Northern
HeliCopter GmbH, Emden, and EC155B D-HLEW entered service with NHC -
Northern HeliCopter from Flugplatz Emden. As a result of the
co-operation, Heli Aviation Gmbh acquired shares in Northern HeliCopter
GmbH in August 2011. Registration D-HLEW was cancelled in January 2012
and Eurocopter EC155 B c/n 6557 was registered PH-EQR with Heli Holland
Air Service B.V., Emmer-Compascuum, as holder, on 27 January 2012.
Dauphin 2 PH-EQR was flown to Atyrau in Kazakhstan for offshore
operations by Heli Holland Offshore in Kazakhstan until it was flown to
Emmer-Compascuum for maintenance by Heli Holland Technics. On 16 June
2012, Eurocopter EC155 B PH-EQR landed for the first time at the Heli
Holland heliport near Emmen after the delivery flight out of Kazakhstan.
On 17 August 2012, registration PH-EQR was cancelled and the aircraft
returned to Germany. On 23 August 2012, registration D-HOAT was reserved
for the aircraft but ntu. On 16 November 2012, the EC155 B was restored
to the German register as D-HLEW with NHC - Northern HeliCopter. On 28
April 2013, Eurocopter EC155 B Dauphin II
D-HLEW was
seen in back service with Heli Holland Offshore. |
Luchtvaart déjà vu
