|
The Airbus Helicopters EC155 B1 is a medium-weight multi-role utility twin
engine helicopter accommodating up to 12 passengers and 2 crew. The EC155 B is a development of the
AS365N Dauphin II,
with 40% larger cabin area, a new five-bladed Spheriflex main rotor with
an extremely low vibration level and 'glass cockpit'. The EC155 B1 is
powered by a pair of Turbomeca Arrius 2C2 turbine engines. The new
generation of Fenestron tail rotor takes part in the decrease in
external noise level. This tail rotor has 10 blades spaced irregularly
around the hub. Development of the EC-155, initially known as AS-365N-4
Dauphin started in September 1996. The development of the AS365 N4 wide
body helicopter was announced at International Paris Airshow in June
1997. A mockup of the N4 was shown at the International Paris Air Show
at Le Bourget and on 17 June 1997, the prototype EC155, F-WDFK, a
rebuilt Dauphin, flew first at Marignane. The first pre-poduction EC155
B flew on 11 March 1998. The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) and
the German Government Agencies (LBA) certification was awarded in
December 1998 and the EC 155 got its single-pilot IFR certificate on 25
January 2000. The first three Eurocopter EC 155 Bs were officially
handed over to the German Federal Ministry of the Interior /
Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS) at the Bonn-Hangelaar base of the BGS on 16
March 1999. The EC155 B1 is a development of the EC155 B with more
powerful engines and improved performance at high altitude and in hot
temperature conditions. Deliveries of the EC 155B1 version began in
September 2002. More than 170 EC155s have been sold. Since March 2015,
Airbus Helicopters uses 'H155' as marketing designation for the EC155 helicopters.
In 2015, Airbus Helicopters and Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) entered into an
agreement to transfer the core production operations of EC-155 helicopters to
South Korea. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) became the sole manufacturer of this type of helicopters.
Now the entire development of the helicopter rested on the KAI company, which started
the development of the helicopter into military versions. The LAH version was created
armed with a 20 mm cannon, side mounts for missiles, bombs and machine guns. The helicopter
can carry 10 armed soldiers on board. In 2023, Airbus Helicopters and local partner KAI
launched series production of the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) – derived from the former’s
H155 medium-twin – with deliveries to commence in 2024. |
|
As a result of the merger between the Eurocopter parents Aérospatiale-Matra; DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (DASA)
and Construcciones Aeronàuticas Sociedad Anonima (CASA) in July 2000, the Eurocopter group became a division of the new formed
EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space company). Taking off into 2014, EADS was rebranded as "Airbus Group". Uniting
all its activities under a single brand, its helicopter division Eurocopter was rebranded as Airbus Helicopters on 8 January 2014. |
|
On 31 July 2003, the Eurocopter EC155 B1 c/n 6658 was registered OY-HSL with Helicopter Transportation Group A/S
as owner and DanCopter A/S, Esbjerg, as operator. At that time DanCopter was part of the Blueway Group. On 28
January 2014, Wells Fargo Bank Northwest NA, USA, was registered as owner with as before DanCopter A/S as operator
of the OY-HSL. In December 2014, NHV Group acquired the Blueway Group, including DanCopter, Blueway Offshore
Norway, Airlift and Vertech Offshore. As before the former DanCopter EC155 B1 OY-HSL was operated by NHV from
Norwich Airport (EGSH / NWI) in the UK. From July 2015, after losing their contracts to CHC Scotia, the OY-HSL and
the other five DanCopter EC155 B1's were stored at Norwich and in the case of OY-HSL at Denham in the UK. On 17 October 2017,
registration D-HBGB was reserved in Germany for the EC155 B1, but not taken up. On 30 November 2017,
registration OY-HSL was cancelled as sold in the UK. On 2 March 2018, the helicopter was registered G-CKVB in the UK with
Waypoint Asset Euro 1A, Limerick, Ireland, as owner. On 23 May 2018, registration D-HNHE was reserved in Germany by NHC -
Northern Helicopter, Emden, but not taken up. On 15 March 2019, the registered ownership of the G-CKVB changed to
Macquarie Rotorcraft Leasing Holdings, London. However the helicopter was registered G-CKVB in the UK in March 2018, the
EC155 B1 remained stored as OY-HSL. On 28 August 2020, registration G-CKVB was cancelled as exported to the Netherlands.
On 29 August 2020, the EC155 B1 arrived by road at the Heli Holland heliport near Emmen in the Netherlands. On 5 October 2020,
the EC155 B1 was restored as G-CKVB to the UK register with Heli Holland Holding, Emmer-Compascuum, Netherlands as registered
owner. On 22 December 2020, registration G-CKVB was cancelled again as exported to the Netherlands. On 30 April 2021, the 2003-built
EC155 B1 Dauphin II was registered PH-HHM with Heli Holland Holding, Emmer-Compascuum. On 16 January 2023, registration PH-HHM was
cancelled due to 'More than one year without valid airworthiness document'.
On 2 December 2014, the DanCopter' EC155 B1
OY-HSL was seen at the Heli Holland heliport near Emmen being tested after heavy maintenance by Heli Holland Technics.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for both the EC155 and H155 helicopter is EC55. |
Luchtvaart déjà vu
