PH-PLB Aerospatiale AS350 B2 Ecureuil c/n 2884 - ex KLPD - heliport Emmen in Holland - 17 April 2002

The AS350 B2 is a single-engined utility helicopter that can accommodate up to 7 passengers. Development of the AS 350 Ecureuil started in the early 70s under the Aérospatiale banner. The first flight of an AvcoLycoming LTS101-powered machine took place on 27/06/1994. The second prototype was fitted with an Arriel 1A and took to the air on 14/02/1975. Certification (with a Turboméca Arriel 1B turboshaft powerplant) was achieved in October 1977. The single-engined AS 350B2, powered with a Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 engine was certified in April 1989. The AS 350 is marketed in North America as the AStar or SuperStar. The helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aerospatiale from France merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group.

In 1995, two AS350 B2 helicopters were ordered for the Dutch Police. The helicopters were built by Eurocopter France and AS350 B2 c/n 2884 was test flown in July 1995. On 10 July 1995, the aircraft was registered PH-PLB in the Netherlands with Schreiner Aviation Group BV and delivered to Maastricht Airport on 12 July. The Ecureuil was registered with the Korps Landelijke Politie Diensten on 16/11/1995. The Ecureuil was operated with the KLPD-Korps Landelijke Politie Diensten out of Amsterdam-Schiphol. The Dutch Police operated the Ecureuil not only on patrol and inspection flights: equipped with a fire fighting system with high-pressure gun the Ecureuil was also used as a fire fighter. In early 2002 the Ecureuils were offered for sale and then sold to Heli-Holland. On 17 April 2002, Ecureuil PH-PLA & PH-PLB arrived on delivery to Heli-Holland at their heliport near Emmen in the Netherlands. The 1995-built AS.350B2 Ecureuil PH-PLB was registered with Heli-Holland on 29/05/2002. After the PH-PLB was sold by Heli-Holland in Canada the registration was cancelled on 09/01/2003. The Ecureuil was registered N884SH in the USA on 21/02/2003.