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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 900 have been delivered since the helicopter entered service in
1996 with the German rescue company DRF - Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht
e.V. |
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The 2005-built Eurocopter EC135 P2 c/n 0399 was testflown with Eurocopter Deutschland registration D-HECG.
On 21 June 2005, Norsk Statens Luftambulanse Eurocopter EC135 P2 c/n 0399 LN-OOH was
photographed at Groningen Airport Eelde in the Netherlands when on delivery to Norway. The LN-OOH
is one of 12 Eurocopter EC135P2 the Norsk Luftambulanse AS ordered in 2003. Deliveries of the EC135P2 to the Norsk
Luftambulanse AS started in 2004. EC135 P2 LN-OOH is operated by Norsk Statens Luftambulanse out of one of the helicopter and
fixed-wing air ambulance bases in Norway, where the government has held national responsibility for the air ambulance
service since 1988. The Norwegian lifeliner helicopters use the callsign "Helidoc". The EC-135P2
was registered LN-OOH in Norway with the SEB Finans AB, Bromma, Sweden as owner and Norsk Luftambulanse AS, Drøbak, Norway, as operator. |
Luchtvaart déjà vu
