The Eurocopter EC155 is a long-range medium-lift passenger transport helicopter developed by Eurocopter from the Dauphin family for civil aviation use. Development began in September 1996 with the helicopter officially announced by Eurocopter at the Paris Air Show in June 1997.
Developing nation: France.
Manufacturer/designer: Eurocopter.
Production Line: Eurocopter France Marignane facility.
Type aircraft: long-range medium-lift passenger transport helicopter.
First flight: 17 June 1997.
State: in service.
The first pre-production EC155 B flew on 11 March 1998. The aircraft received safety certification by the French & German Civil Aviation Authorities on 11 December 1998 and went into production soon after, with a price tag of US$7–8 million depending on installed equipment.
The EC155 B1 is Eurocopter’s high end 5-ton twin-engine helicopter. It is an enhanced version of the proven Dauphin family and boasts the most advanced technologies available. The EC155 B1 has a five-bladed Spheriflex® rotor head with an extremely low vibration level. Equipped with Eurocopter’s famous Fenestron® tail rotor, the EC155 B1 performs with a noise level that falls 4.6 dB below ICAO level. It’s so quiet that passengers feel as if they are travelling in a business jet.
Variants
- EC155 – The first prototype, built from modifying an existing Dauphin airframe.
- EC155 B – The first production version, powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2C1 turboshaft engines.
- EC155 B1 – A more powerful model equipped with two Turbomeca Arriel 2C2 turboshaft engines and higher M.T.O.W., offering enhanced hot/high performance
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 or 2 (pilots)
- Capacity: 13 passengers
- Length: 14.30 m (46.91 ft)
- Rotor diameter: 12.60 m (41.34 ft)
- Height: 4.35 m (14.27 ft)
- Empty weight: 2,618 kg (5,772 lb)
- Loaded weight: 4,950 kg (10,913 lb)
- Useful load: 2,301 kg (5,072 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 4,920 kg (10,846 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Arriel 2C2 turboshaft, 697 kW (943 shp) each
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 324 km/h, 201 mph (175 kts)
- Cruise speed: 280 km/h, 174 mph (151 kts)
- Range: 857 km, 532 mi (463 nm)
- Service ceiling: 4,572 m (15,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 8.9 m/s (1,766 ft/min)
All pictures courtesy of Zijde Aviation Photo and Publishing, Rob Vogelaar
