The Airbus Helicopters SA.365 C3 Dauphin II is a twin-engined medium-weight transport helicopter for up to 2 crew and 13
passengers powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 1C2 Turbine engines. The twin-engine SA.365 was developed in 1973 by SNIAS
(Société Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale) out of the single-engine SA.360 Dauphin. The SA.365 prototype F-WVKE, a
SA.360 fitted with 2 Turbomeca Arriel 1A Turboshafts, flew first on 24 January 1975. In 1977 production commenced with
the SA.365-C, with deliveries starting in 1978. An improved version of the SA 365C Dauphin II, the SA.365N flew
first on 31 March 1979. The SA 365N differs from the SA365C in having Arriel 1C turbine engines, a
re-profiled fuselage, fully retractable undercarriage and increased fuel capacity in new under-floor tankage.
Deliveries of the production model began in 1982. Deliveries of the AS.365 N2, equipped with two Turboméca
Arriel 1C2 turboshafts, started in 1990. From 1984, SNIAS operated under the name of Aérospatiale.
The helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aerospatiale from France merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter
Group. A new Eurocopter designation was added: EC155 B1, originally known as the AS 365 N4. The Dauphin II is in use
in several military and civilian roles. The AS 565 Panther is the military version of the Dauphin. The AS 366 G1,
powered by two Textron-Lycoming LTS.101-750B-2 turboshafts, is used by the United States Coast Guard under the
designation HH-65A Dolphin. The Dauphin II is manufactured under licence in China as the Harbin Z-9 Haitung and in
Brasil as the Helibras MH-1. Already over 1100 AS 365/366/565 and EC155 versions have been manufactured.
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 1978-built SA.365 C3 Dauphin II s/n 5017 was originally built as a
S.N.I.A.S. SA365C and registration N5795A was allotted but ntu. The
airframe was converted to a SA365 C2 and test flown as F-WTNW. In August
1978, the aircraft entered service with Héli-Union, Paris, as F-GBGV. On
9 March 1979, the SA365 C2 was registered F-ODJL with Locafrance
International Leasing as owner and operated by Héli-Union in
Argentina. On 14 March 1985, SA Héli-Union Investissements was
registered as owner and in 1987 registration F-GFIA was reserved but
ntu. Registration F-ODJL was cancelled on 27 October 1987 and the
aircraft was registered LV-AID in Argentina with Helicópteros Marinos in
Buenos Aires, a group Héli-Union company. On 30 April 1992, the aircraft
was registered F-GHXF in France as a SA365 C3 with SA Héli-Union
Investissements and on 13 January 1998 the Dauphin II was registered with
Héli-Union SA. Registration F-GHXF was cancelled on 4 April 2002
and the aircraft was registered EC-IEL in Spain with Helicsa Helicópteros.
In 2009, the SA365 C3 was sold to OLT in Germany and the helicopter was
registered D-HNHC with NHC - Northern HeliCopter GmbH, Emden, on 30 June 2009.
Since, the aircraft was seen first in August with large OLT tail-markings,
then in September with small NHC tail-markings and finally with the large
NHC tail-markings as shown on the picture. Dauphin II D-HNHC uses call
sign "Rettungsdienst Emden 14-81".
Luchtvaart déjà vu
