The Eurocopter EC 135 is a lightweight five/seven seat twin-turbine-engine multi-role helicopter with a radius of 720 km.
The EC 135 is offered with either Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 or Pratt and Whitney Canada PW206B2 engines. 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
700 have been delivered since the helicopter entered service in 1996 with the German rescue company DRF - Deutsche
Rettungsflugwacht e.V.
RTH (Rettungstransporthubschrauber) Eurocopter EC 135 T2+ D-HZSD of the Bundesminsterium des Innern / Katastrophenschutz was
photographed during Flugplatzfest 2008 at Bielefeld-Windelsbleiche airfield in Germany. At that time, the aircraft was in service as "Christoph
13", stationed at the nearby Luftrettungszentrum Bielefeld. Air Rescue Station Bielefeld is situated close to the Bielefeld-Rosenhöhe hospital.
Bundesgrenzschutz Fliegerstaffel Nord flies the helicopters of “Christoph 13”. Operations of "Cristoph 13"
in the Bielefeld area started on 3 July 1976. The call sign "Christoph" is used for the German lifeliner
helicopters since 1970 and is derived of Saint Christophorus, the Patron Saint for all travellers. The helicopters in use are
operated by the Bundespolizeifliegerstaffel Nord. On 20 August 2007, the MBB BO.105CBS-5
in service as "Christoph 13" was replaced by Eurocopter EC-135 T2+ D-HZSE.
On 31 January 2007, the BMI - Bundesministerium des Inneren (German Ministry of the Interior) took delivery of the
first pair of a total of sixteen EC135T2+ air rescue helicopters for the BBK - Bundesamtes für Bevölkerungsschutz und
Katastrophenhilfe. The EC135 T2+ air rescue helicopters replaced the ageing MBB Bo.105 helicopters in service.
Eurocopter Germany used test-registration D-HECW for the 2007-built Eurocopter EC135 T2+ c/n 0553. On 24 May 2007,
the EC135 T2+ was registered D-HZSD with BMI - Bundesministerium des Inneren.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
