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The Eurocopter AS355 is a twin-engined light utility helicopter that can accommodate up to 7 passengers.
Development of the Ecureuil started in the early 70s under the Aérospatiale banner with the
single-engined AS350. The first flight of an Aerospatiale AS350 took place on
27 June 1994. A twin-engine version of the AS350, the AS355 Ecureuil 2 flew first on 28 September 1979.
The Eucureuil 2 entered production as the AS355 E. Early 1982, the AS355 F with a higher max takeoff weight replaced
the AS355 E in production. The AS355 F was followed by the AS355 F1 in January 1984 and
AS355 F2 in December 1985. The AS355 Ecureuil 2 is marketed in North America as the 'TwinStar'.
The helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aérospatiale from France merged in January 1992 to form the
Eurocopter Group. |
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In August 1982, the 1982-built SNIAS AS355 F1 Twin Star c/n 5215 was registered ZS-HMF in South Africa with
Heliquip P/L in Swaziland. The ZS-HMF was transferred to the Government
of the Republic South Africa and entered service with the Bophuthatswana
Air Force / President du Bophuthatswana. Registration ZS-HMF was
cancelled on 17 July 1992 and on 10 August 1992, registration PH-HVH was
reserved in the Netherlands. On 9 September 1992, the helicopter was
registered as an AS-355F with Heli-Holland Holding B.V.,
Emmer-Compascuum. The PH-HVH is operated by Heli-Holland since. On 8
October 1992, the registered type for the PH-HVH was changed into a
SNIAS AS 355 F1. Twin Star PH-HVH was based at Lelystad and mainly used
as an ambulance helicopter until it replaced in 2005 the AS355 F1
PH-HHC on its Coast Guard operations
for the Dutch Navy out of Hato AB near Willemstad, Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles. On 28 February 1997, SNIAS AS.355-F1 PH-HVH was
photographed as an ambulance helicopter at the Heli-Holland heliport in Emmer-Erfscheidenveen near Emmen in the Netherlands. |
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