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The MBB Bo.105P is the Antitank variant for military usage of the five-seat lightweight, general-purpose helicopter MBB Bo.105 helicopter.
The Bo.105P has a roof-mounted direct-view, daylight-only sight to allow firing of HOT ATGMs. Options exist to fit a thermal imaging system for night operations,
and a laser designator. 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 West German Government ordered the BO.105 M as a connection and observation helicopter
for the Federal West German Army (Heeresflieger). The BO.105 M version, had a strengthened transmission gearing, reinforced rotor components, a
tail rotor with improved thrust and performance, a rupture-proof fuel system and a landing gear able to absorb higher energy levels.
Deliveries of 100 MBB Bo.105M, also known as VBH (Verbindungshubschrauber),, observation/liaison helicopters for the West German Army began in 1979 and were completed in 1984.
In 1975, development of a specialist anti-tank version armed with up to six Euromissile HOT missiles, designated as the Bo 105 PAH-1 (PAH=Panzerabwehrhubschrauber),
started. The Federal German government gave its approval for the procurement of 212 PAH-1s for the Federal German Army. Deliveries began on 4 December 1980 and were completed in mid-1984.
In late 1987, the West German Ministry of Defense awarded MBB a contract for a mid-life improvement program for the West German Army's PAH-1 anti-tank helicopters. This effort,
an interim measure until the introduction of the Eurocopter PAH-2 "Tiger" in the late 1990s, was completed in 1994. Further planned modifications have been cancelled. |
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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. |
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MBB Bo.105P1 c/n 6045 entered service with the Federal West German Army (Heeresflieger) HFR 26 (Heeresfliegerregiment 16) at Fliegerhorst Roth as 86+45.
Following the German reunification on 3 October 1990, the Federal West German Army was partially integrated into the Federal German Army;
MBB Bo.105P1 86+45 remained in service with HFR 26 at Roth. At the end of the nineties, MBB Bo.105PAH-1 86+45 was transferred HFlgVersStff 910 (Heeresfliegerversuchsstaffel 910)
at Buckeburg; later the the helicopter served with HFlgUstgStff 14 (Heeresfliegerunterstützungsstaffel 14) at Buckeburg and KHR 36 (Kampfhubschrauberregiment 36 „Kurhessen“) at
Fritzlar. On 24 May 2016, MBB Bo.105PAH-1 86+45 was seen at Fliegerhorst Celle withdrawn from use and stored with many others awaiting demolition or sale. |
Luchtvaart déjà vu
