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. A militarized version called the EC 635
has been developed from the EC 135. 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 1000 have been delivered since the helicopter entered service in
1996 with the German rescue company DRF - Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht
e.V.
RTH (Rettungstransporthubschrauber) EC135 P1 D-HIPT "Christoph 70" was photographed at the helipad of
the ADAC-Luftrettungszentrum Jena. This Air Rescue Station is situated at the airfield Jena-Schöngleina in Germany
and was opened in June 2005. Until June 2005 the helicopter of the Air Rescue station was located in a temporary
hangar at Jena-Schöngleina. Operations of the Air Rescue station Jena started on 8 June 1994. First
a Bell UH-1D of the German Army was used. In January 1996, the ADAC-Luftrettung GmbH took over the flying operations.
The 1999-built EC-135P1 c/n 0109 was registered in July 1999 as D-HIPT and delivered to the ADAC Luftrettung GmbH.
The callsign "Christoph" is used for the German lifeliner helicopters since 1970 and is derived of Saint
Christophorus, the Patron Saint for all travellers. In October 2011, Eurocopter EC135 P1 D-HIPT was sold to Western Power Distribution
for their WPD Helicopter Unit. After maintanance by ADAC Luftfahrt
Technik at Bonn-Hangelar, the helicopter will be registered G-WPDA with South Western Helicopters trading as WPD Helicopter Unit, Bristol,
UK.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
