The MBB Bo.105 is a five-seat lightweight, general-purpose
helicopter. Development of the Bo.105 started back in 1959 when Bölkow
designed the Bo.103 helicopter. The Bo.103 single-seat flew first on 14
September 1961. The two-seat Bo.104 followed this study-project. Due to
marketing reasons this project was stopped in favour of the five-seat
Bo.105. Design work for the Bo.105 began in July 1962. Construction of
the first of three prototypes began in 1964. The first Bo.105 prototype
D-HAKO s/n V-1 was destroyed in ground tests and written off in October
1966. The second machine, D-HECA s/n V-2, was powered by two 317shp
Allison 250C18 turboshafts and on 16 February 1967, the BO105 took off
for its maiden flight in Ottobrunn (near Munich), Germany. On 14 May 1969
Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm GmbH (MBB) was formed and development of the Bo.105 continued
with the first production BO-105A, D-HABV s/n S-1, flying on 11 April 1970.
The breakthrough came in 1974 when the German Army ordered the BO
105 as a connection and observation helicopter. In January 1992 the MBB
Bo 105 became part of the large helicopters types row of Eurocopter when
the helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aerospatiale from
France merged to form the Eurocopter Group. In 1993 the BO 105 CBS with
a 25cm fuselage stretch and extra window was certificated. Over the years,
license agreements for the BO105 CB/CBS versions with the Philippines,
Indonesia and Spain were concluded, and for the BO105 LS, a cooperation
agreement with Canada. Until production ended in 2001, as the BO105 was superseded by
Eurocopter’s EC135, a total of 1,406 BO105s had been delivered to 55
customer nations.
In January 1992, the MBB Bo 105 became part of the large helicopters types row of Eurocopter when
the helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aerospatiale from France merged to form the Eurocopter Group. 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.
The 1972-built MBB Bo.105C s/n S-71 was testflown with the MBB - Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm registration D-HDBV.
In 1973 the MBB Bo.105C was delivered to the Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung (BWB) as D-9587. In 1974,
the Bo.105C was transferred to the Federal West German Army Aviation (Heeresflieger) and reserialed 98+16. In 1977,
the MBB Bo.105C was reserialed 82+96. In 1980, MBB Bo.105C 82+96 was one of eleven Bo.105C helicopters that were
obtained by Spain from the West German Army for training and transport duties. The 82+96 entered service with the
Spanish Army with serial HE15-14 and code ET-135. In 1999, the Bo.105C HE15-14 was withdrawn from use and stored at
Colmenar in Viejo. In 2007, the helicopter was seen preserved as gate guard at El Copero near Sevilla.
On 11 June 1977, MBB Bo.105C 82+96 of the Heeresflieger was seen at Fliegerhorst Rheine-Hopsten, during the Tag der
Offenen Tür. The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the MBB Bo.105C is B105.
