PH-SSP Aerospatiale SA.365N Dauphin 2 c/n 6072 - Schreiner Airways - heliport Emmen, Holland - 2 July 1995

The Eurocopter AS.365N Dauphin 2 is a twin-engined medium-weight transport helicopter powered by a pair of Turbomeca Arriel 1C2 Turbine engines, accommodating up to 13 passengers and 2 crew. The twin-engine SA.365 was developed in 1973 by SNIAS (Société Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale) out of the single-engine SA.360 Dauphin. The SA.365 prototype F-WVKE, a SA.360 fitted with 2 Turbomeca Arriel 1A Turboshafts, flew first on 24 January 1975. In 1977 production commenced with the SA.365-C, with deliveries starting in 1978. An improved version of the SA 365C Dauphin 2, the SA.365N flew first on 31 March 1979. The SA 365N differs from the SA365C in having Arriel 1C turbine engines, a re-profiled fuselage, fully retractable undercarriage and increased fuel capacity in new under-floor tankage. Deliveries of the production model began in 1982. Deliveries of the AS.365 N2, equipped with two Turboméca Arriel 1C2 turboshafts, started in 1990. From 1984, SNIAS operated under the name of Aérospatiale. The helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aerospatiale from France merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group. A new Eurocopter designation was added: EC 155 B1, originally known as the AS 365 N4. The Dauphin 2 is in use in several military and civilian roles. The AS 565 Panther is the military version of the Dauphin. The AS 366 G1, powered by two Textron-Lycoming LTS.101-750B-2 turboshafts, is used by the United States Coast Guard under the designation HH-65A Dolphin. The Dauphin 2 is manufactured under licence in China as the Harbin Z-9 Haitung and in Brasil as the Helibras MH-1. Already over 750 AS 365/366/565 and EC155 versions have been produced.

Eurocopter AS.365N2 PH-SSP of Schreiner Airways was photographed at the Heli-Holland heliport near Emmen in the Netherlands. The Aerospatiale SA.365N Dauphin 2 PH-SSP was based at Den Helder-de Kooy airport. Out of Den Helder this Schreiner helicopter was operated to the oil-platforms off-shore. The 1983-built Aérospatiale SA-365N Dauphin 2 s/n 6072 used the test registration F-WTNR, before it was registered as PH-SSP with Schreiner Airways BV on 3 January 1984. From 19 November 1987 until 27 January 1989, the helicopter was leased as G-BNZY to Mc Alpine Helicopters. On 17 July 1998, the registration PH-SSP was cancelled for the second time, and the Dauphin 2 was registered in Nigeria as 5N-ESO and is operated by Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria.