The Eurocopter EC175 (Avicopter Z-15) is a 7-ton class medium utility helicopter being developed by Eurocopter and AVIC. The Eurocopter EC175 medium twin helicopter was officially introduced on December 17 in Marignane, France, thus filling the gap between the manufacturer’s EC155 Dauphin and the EC225 Super Puma.
Developing nation: France/China.
Manufacturer/designer: Eurocopter/Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (HAMC).
Production line: Marseille-Marignan/ Harbin.
Type aircraft: Medium utility helicopter.
First flight: 4 December 2009.
State: in service.
The EC175 features a brand new cockpit developed by Eurocopter, which acted as the integrator of avionics hardware components and authored an important part of the software. The EC175 is one of the first helicopters to use the latest standard of MSG-3, reducing redundancy and allowing operators to tailor check intervals and downtime to their specific needs.
First flown on the 4 December 2009 the prototype had an official maiden flight on 17 December 2009 in Marignane, France. The registration of the first prototype, F-WWPB, draws the last two letters from flight test engineer Patrick Bremond’s name. “This is the tradition,” he said. Bremond is the head of the flight test crew, just after the flight. Certification with the EASA will take place in 2011, with initial deliveries in 2012.
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 pilots
- Capacity: 16 passengers
- Length: 13.68 m (44.88 ft)
- Rotor diameter: 10.69 (35.07 ft)
- Height: 3.47 m (11,38 ft)
- Max takeoff weight: 7,000 kg (15,433 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67E turboshaft, 1,325 kW (2,000 shp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 315 km/h (196 mph)
- Cruise speed: 285 km/h (177 mph)
- Service ceiling: 6,000 m (19.685 ft)
All pictures courtesy of Zijde Aviation Photo and Publishing, Rob Vogelaar
