The AS 350B2 is a single-engined utility helicopter that can accommodate up to 7 passengers.
Development of the AS 350 Ecureuil started in the early 70s under the Aérospatiale banner. The first
flight of an AvcoLycoming LTS101-powered machine took place on 27/06/1994. The second prototype
was fitted with an Arriel 1A and took to the air on 14/02/1975. Certification (with a Turboméca
Arriel 1B turboshaft powerplant) was achieved in October 1977. The single-engined AS 350B2,
powered with a Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 engine was certified in April 1989. The AS 350 is marketed
in North America as the AStar or SuperStar. The helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aerospatiale
from France merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group.
In 1995 two AS.350B2 were ordered for the Dutch Police. These helicopters were built by Eurocopter
France and the PH-PLB was test flown in July 1995 as F-W???. It was registered on 10/07/1995
with Schreiner Aviation Group BV as PH-PLB and delivered to Maastricht Airport on 12/07/1995. It
was registered to the Korps Landelijke Politie Diensten on 16/11/1995. The Ecureuil was operated
with the KLPD-Korps Landelijke Politie Diensten out of Amsterdam-Schiphol. The Dutch Police operated
the Ecureuil not only on patrol and inspection flights: equipped with a fire fighting system with
high-pressure gun the Ecureuil was also used as a fire fighter. In early 2002 the Ecureuils were
offered for sale and then sold to Heli-Holland. On 17 April 2002, Ecureuil
PH-PLA & PH-PLB arrived
on delivery to Heli-Holland at their heliport near Emmen in the Netherlands. The 1995 built AS.350B2 Ecureuil PH-PLB
was registered with Heli-Holland on 29/05/2002. After the PH-PLB was sold by Heli-Holland in Canada
the registration was cancelled on 09/01/2003. The Ecureuil was registered as N884SH on 21/02/2003.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
