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 Until production ended in 2001, as the BO105 was superseded by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.
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 DRF facilities at "Städtische Klinikum Heinrich-Braun-Krankenhaus
Zwickau", LRZ Zwickau, were opened on 1 August 1991. On 7 June 2006, RTH
(Rettungstransporthubschrauber) MBB BO.105CBS-5 D-HLLL of DRF-Deutsche
Rettungflugwacht e.V. (Rettungsdienststiftung Björn Steiger e.V.) was
seen in service as "Christoph 46" at the helipad of
DRF-Luftrettungszentrum Zwickau in Sachsen, Germany. Call sign "Christoph" is used
for the German lifeliner helicopters since 1970 and is derived of Saint
Christophorus, the Patron Saint for all travellers. On 23 September 2008, DRF - Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht e.V. was renamed DRF
Luftrettung. In July 2009, the DRF Luftrettung MBB BO.105CBS-5 helicopter in service as "Christoph 46" was replaced by
a DRF Luftrettung Eurocopter EC135 P2+.
In 1991, MBB Bo.105CBS-5 s/n S-875 was built as Bo.105CBS-4 and tested
as D-HFNG. The same year, the Bo.105CBS-4 was registered D-HMBM and used
by MBB as a demonstrator. In 1992, the helicopter was registered N4345F
as a Bo.105S with American Eurocopter Corp. in the USA and used by AEC
as a demonstrator. Registration N4345F was cancelled on 28 July 1993 and
the helicopter returned to Germany. The aircraft was upgraded to the
Bo.105CBS-5 standard and registered D-HLLL with DRF - Deutsche
Rettungsflugwacht e.V. in October 1994. On 23 September 2008, DRF -
Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht e.V. was renamed DRF Luftrettung. In 2009,
Bo.105CBS-5 D-HLLL was withdrawn from use by DRF Luftrettung and stored
engine-less at Karlsruhe - Baden-Baden Airport. After maintenance and repaint in the
DRF Luftrettung’s maintenance facility at Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, Bo.105CBS-5 D-HLLL
returned in service as a recue helicopter. In 2011, MBB Bo.105CBS-5 D-HLLL was seen all yellow with HELOG / West African Air Rescue Association titles.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
