| AS355 Ecureuil 2/TwinStar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| An AS355 F2 of Hankyu Airlines at Maishima Heliport, Osaka, Japan | |
| Role | Light utility helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Aérospatiale Eurocopter Group |
| First flight | 3 October 1979 |
| Status | Active In production |
| Primary user | Chilean Army, Jamaica and Bhutan |
| Produced | 1975 - present |
| Unit cost | |
| Developed from | Eurocopter AS350 |
| Variants | AS555 Fennec |
The Eurocopter AS355 Ecureuil 2 (Twin Squirrel) is a twin-engine light helicopter originally manufactured by Aérospatiale in France (now part of Eurocopter Group). The AS355 is marketed in North America as the TwinStar.
Design and development[]
Development began in the early 1970s to replace the Alouette II, and the first flight took place on 27 June 1974.[1] A twin-engined version, known as the Ecureuil 2, Twin Squirrel, or in North America as the TwinStar, first flew on 28 September 1979.[2] Despite the introduction of the EC130, production of the Eurocopter AS350 and AS355, and the AS550 and AS555 Fennec military versions remains strong.
Variants[]
Twin engine[]
AS355N Twin Squirrel
Royal Malaysian Police Air Wing Unit's AS355N Twin Squirrel.
AS355F1 Ecureuil 2
BBC News AS355 G-TVHD
AS 355N in 2006
- AS355
- Prototype of the twin-engined Ecureuil 2 or Twin Squirrel.
- AS355 E
- Initial production version, with single hydraulics, powered by two Allison 250-C20F turboshaft engines.
- AS355 F
- Improved version, with dual hydraulics and increased maximum weight of 2,300 kg (5,070 lb).
- AS355 F1
- Powered by two Allison 250-C20F engines, 2,400 kg (5,291 lb) Maximum weight.
- AS355 F2
- Powered by two Allison 250-C20F engines, 2,540 kg (5,600 lb) Maximum weight and a yaw compensation system.
- AS355 M
- Initial armed version of AS355 F1.
- AS355 M2
- Armed version of AS355 F2. Superseded by AS555 Fennec.
- AS355 N Ecureuil 2
- Version fitted with two Turbomeca Arrius 1A engines and a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system for better M.T.O.W (2,600 kg or 5,732 lb) and better single engine performance, tail rotor strake added along starboard side of tail boom for better yaw authority.
- AS355 NP Ecureuil 2
- Introduced in 2007, this version is fitted with two Turbomeca Arrius 1A1 turboshaft engines and a new AS350 B3-based main gearbox, increasing maximum take-off weight to 2,800 kg (6,173 lb).[3]
- HB.355F Esquilo Bi
- Assembled in Brazil by Helibras (part of Eurocopter).
- HB.355N Esquilo Bi
- Assembled in Brazil by Helibras.
Aftermarket conversions[]
- Heli-Lynx 355FX1
- Powered by the Allison C20F engine. FAA, TC, and EASA approved.
- Heli-Lynx 355FX2
- Powered by the Allison C20F engine. FAA,TC and EASA approved.
- Heli-Lynx 355FX2R
- Powered by the Allison C20R engine. FAA and TC approved.
- Starflex AS355F1R
- AS355 F1 powered by the Allison C20R engine. FAA, TC and EASA approved.
- Starflex AS355F2R
- AS355 F2 Powered by the Allison C20R engine with optimised tail rotor blades. FAA, TC and EASA approved.
Operators[]
The AS355 is used by both private individuals and companies, helicopter charter and training organizations as well as law enforcement and government use.
Military and government operators[]
Algeria
- Belarus
- Border Guard [5]
- Brazil
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Chile
- Djibouti
- Jamaica
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Royal Malaysia Police[10]
- New Zealand
- New Zealand Police[11]
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Uruguay
- Massachusetts State Police[16]
Former operators[]
- Bophuthatswana
- Ireland
West Midlands Police's G-WMPA
Accidents and incidents[]
- On 22 October 1996, Chelsea Football Club Vice Chairman Matthew Harding together with five companions were killed when their AS355 F1 Squirrel, registration G-CFLT, crashed near Middlewich, Cheshire.[19]
- In July 1998, the Kent Air Ambulance, a AS355 F1 Squirrel, crashed in good weather after colliding with power cables near Burham whilst returning to Rochester Airport following an aborted call to attend a road accident.[20] All three crew - the pilot, Graham Budden, and two paramedics, Tony Richardson and Mark Darby - were killed on impact.[21]
- In May 2007, Chelsea Football Club Vice President Philip Carter, founder of training company Carter and Carter, crashed in his part-owned Twin Squirrel registration G-BYPA returning from Liverpool John Lennon Airport after watching Chelsea play Liverpool F.C.[22]
_-_Eurocopter_AS355_F2.jpg){kind=link}
VH-NTV in December 2010
- On 18 August 2011, a AS-355F-2 (reg No/ VH-NTV) crashed near Lake Eyre in South Australia resulting in 3 fatalities.[23] The Helicopter was owned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. On board were, Gary Ticehurst (abc chief helicopter pilot for 25 years), John Bean (cameraman) and Paul Lockyer (journalist). All three had 20 years or more experience working for the ABC.[24]
- On 20 October 2011, the Eurocopter twin-engine helicopter crashed at 3:45 p.m. (1245 GMT) near the village of Vileity and burst into flames. A Belarus border patrol helicopter crashed Thursday near the Lithuanian border, killing all five people on board, including three members of a television crew, the agency said.[25]
Specifications (AS355F2)[]
Cockpit of AS355 F1 Ecureuil 2
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89[26]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 6
- Length: 12.94 m (42 ft 5½ in)
- Rotor diameter: 10.69 m (35 ft 0¾ in)
- Height: 3.14 m (10 ft 3½ in)
- Disc area: 89.75 m² (966 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 1,305 kg (2,877 lbs)
- Max. takeoff weight: 2,540 kg[27] (5,732 lbs)
- Powerplant: 2 × Allison 250-C20F turboshaft, 313 kW (420 shp) each
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 278 km/h (150 knots, 172 mph)
- Cruise speed: 224 km/h (121 knots, 139 mph)
- Range: 703 km (380 nm, 437 mi)
- Service ceiling: 3,400 m (11,150 ft)
- Rate of climb: 6.5 m/s (1,280 ft/min)
See also[]
{{Aircontent
- Bell 427
- MD Helicopters MD Explorer
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References[]
Citations[]
- ↑ http://62.160.110.229/jrotor/73/latinamerica.html#I0000f69b
- ↑ Taylor 1988, p.61.
- ↑ Eurocopter Press Release - Eurocopter Upgrades Its Most Affordable Twin, The AS355 Ecureuil/TwinStar
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 "World Air Forces 2013". Flightglobal Insight. 2013. http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/media/reports_pdf/emptys/101015/world-air-forces-2013.pdf. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ↑ "Государственный пограничный комитет вооружается европейскими вертолетами". .tut.by. http://news.tut.by/society/170932.html. Retrieved 1-March-2013.
- ↑ "Ontario Provincial Police upgrade from AS355F2 to EC135P2+". helihub.com. http://helihub.com/2011/02/04/ontario-provincial-police-upgrade-from-as355f2-to-ec135p2/. Retrieved 1-March-2013.
- ↑ "Ontario Provincial Police AS-355F". Demand media. http://www.airliners.net/photo/Ontario-Provincial-Police/Aerospatiale-AS-355F-2-TwinStar/1212353/L/&sid=dea016e47f91e4b491408010653d4b1c. Retrieved 1-March-2013.
- ↑ "JDF AS-355". jdfmil.org. http://www.jdfmil.org/equipment/aircraft/aircraft_home_ecurieul.php. Retrieved 1-March-2013.
- ↑ "JDF Eurocopter AS-355". Demand media. http://www.airliners.net/photo/Jamaica---Air/Eurocopter-AS-355N-Ecureuil/1178236/L/&sid=40e7819dbccbb8f8d00ea24453fe2c9c. Retrieved 1-March-2013.
- ↑ "Royal Malaysian Police wants more helicopters". helihub.com. http://helihub.com/2012/10/23/royal-malaysian-police-wants-more-helicopters/. Retrieved 1-March-2013.
- ↑ "NZ Civil Aircraft". nzcivair .com. http://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2009/11/helilink-helicopters-at-mechanics-bay.html. Retrieved 1-March-2013.
- ↑ "Russian Military Plans to Buy Foreign Helicopters". rian.ru. http://en.rian.ru/military_news/20120222/171457863.html. Retrieved 1-March-2013.
- ↑ "Eurocopter AS-355N Ecureuil 2 Ministry of the Interior". Demand media. http://www.airliners.net/photo/Russia---Air/Eurocopter-AS-355N-Ecureuil/2199338/L/. Retrieved 1-March-2013.
- ↑ "World's Air Forces 2004 Pg 83". flightglobal.com. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2004/2004-09%20-%202376.html. Retrieved 1-March-2013.
- ↑ "Aviación Naval Uruguaya". http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/326/. Retrieved 1-March-2013.
- ↑ "AS355 NP Overview". eurocopterusa.com. http://www.eurocopterusa.com/products/AS355-overview.asp. Retrieved 1-March-2013.
- ↑ "World's Air Forces 1987 pg. 28". flightglobal.com. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1987/1987%20-%202494.html. Retrieved 1-March-2013.
- ↑ "About the Air Support Unit". garda.ie. http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=36&Lang=1. Retrieved 1-March-2013.
- ↑ "Pilot disorientated on impact". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/35087.stm. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
- ↑ "Bulletin No:2/2000 Aerospatiale AS355 F1 Ecureuil II G-MASK". Air Accident Investigation Board. http://www.aaib.gov.uk/sites/aaib/cms_resources/dft_avsafety_pdf_500724.pdf.
- ↑ "UK Helicopter crash kills three". BBC News. 1998-07-27. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/139680.stm. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
- ↑ "Millionaire Chelsea fan and his son die in helicopter crash". Daily Mail. May 2, 2007. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-452157/Millionaire-Chelsea-fan-son-die-helicopter-crash.html. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
- ↑ "Collision with terrain - Aérospatiale Industries helicopter, VH-NTV, near Lake Eyre, SA, 18 August 2011". Australian Transport Safety Bureau. 19 August 2011. http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2011/aair/ao-2011-102.aspx. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ↑ "ABC chopper crash probe could take a year". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 August 2011. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-19/investigators-head-to-abc-chopper-crash-site/2847074. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ↑ Helicopter crash in Belarus kills 5
- ↑ Taylor 1988, pp.60—62.
- ↑ Max slung load
Bibliography[]
- Taylor, John W.R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Defence Data, 1988. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.
- Directory: World Air Forces. Flight International, 11–17 November 2008. pp. 52–76.
External links[]
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The original article can be found at Eurocopter AS355 and the edit history here.