The Airbus Helicopters AS365 N3 Dauphin II is a twin-engined medium-weight transport helicopter
powered by a pair of 851 hp Arriel 2C turboshafts equipped with a single channel DECU
(Digital Engine Control Unit) with manual reversion, mated to an uprated
main transmission for better single engine performance Turbomeca
Arriel C2 Turbine engines, accommodating up to 13 passengers and 2
crew. The twin-engine SA.365 was developed in 1973 by SNIAS (Société
Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale) out of the single-engine SA.360
Dauphin. The SNIAS SA.365 prototype F-WVKE, a SA.360 fitted with 2
Turbomeca Arriel 1A Turboshafts, flew first on 24 January 1975. In 1977
production commenced with the SA.365-C, with deliveries starting in
1978. An improved version of the SA 365C Dauphin II, the SA.365N flew
first on 31 March 1979. The SA365 N differs from the SA365C in having
Arriel 1C turbine engines, a re-profiled fuselage, fully retractable
undercarriage and increased fuel capacity in new under-floor tankage.
Deliveries of the production model began in 1982. Deliveries of the
AS.365 N2, equipped with two Turboméca Arriel 1C2 turboshafts, started
in 1990. From 1984, SNIAS operated under the name of Aérospatiale. The
helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aérospatiale from France
merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group. A new Eurocopter
designation was added:
EC155 B1, originally known as the AS 365 N4. The Dauphin II is in use
in several military and civilian roles. The AS 565 Panther is the military version of the Dauphin. The AS 366 G1,
powered by two Textron-Lycoming LTS.101-750B-2 turboshafts, is used by the United States Coast Guard under the
designation HH-65A Dolphin. The Dauphin II is manufactured under licence in China as the Harbin Z-9 Haitung and in
Brasil as the Helibras MH-1. Production ended in 2021 with more than 1100 AS365N versions built: the last AS365N3 was delivered on 24 January 2022.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator with Wake Category used to classify aircraft types is AS65 for the AS365 N3 helicopters.
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 13 June 1990, Aérospatiale AS365 N1 s/n 6352 was registered N79MD in the USA. On 13 June 1990, the N79MD was registered to the Maryland State Police,
Baltimore. In service with the Maryland State Police the 1990-built Aérospatiale AS365 N1 Dauphin II N79MD used call sign 'Trooper 3' and was operated
out of Andrews Air Force Base. In 2002, the helicopter was modified and registered as an Eurocopter AS365 N3 model on 18 April 2002. After the helicopter
was withdrawn from use by the Maryland State Police it was offered for sale. On 21 July 2016, registration N79MD was cancelled as exported Germany. On 24
August 2016, the Eurocopter AS365 N3 was registered D-HFVP with Heli-Flight, Reichelsheim. Since, the helicopter is operated on behalf of Johanniter
Luftrettung, Nürnberg in der Eifel / Medical Center Nürnbergring Heliport. On 12 May 2022, the Heli-Flight' Eurocopter AS365 N3 D-HFVP 'JOHANNITER -
NOTARZT' was seen at Koblenz-Winningen airfield. Although the helicopter was modified to an AS365 N3 model, the new placed construction
number plate of the D-HFVP in the cockpit mentions model AS365 N1.
