The Airbus Helicopters EC135 / H135 is a lightweight five/seven seat twin-turbine-engine multi-role helicopter with a radius of 720 km.
The EC135 is offered with either Safran Helicopter Engines (former: Turbomeca) Arrius 2B2 or Pratt & Whitney PW206B2 engines.
Development of the Eurocopter EC135 started in the 80s as the MBB Bo.108 Advanced Technology Helicopter. The prototype BO108 with
conventional tail rotor flew first on 15 October 1988. When the helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aérospatiale from
France merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group, the Bo108 program was transferred as well. An advanced low noise ducted
10-blade Fenestron tail rotor was, next to other modifications, incorporated into the design and the name of the helicopter was
changed into Eurocopter EC135. The prototype of the EC135 (D-HBOX s/n S-01) flew first on 15 February 1994 and went in series
production in 1996 at Donauwörth. On 14 June 1996, the German certification was granted by the LBA and the first customer delivery
followed on 31 July that year. Next to the EC135 a special military version was developed designated the Eurocopter EC635. The
EC635 has a structural reinforcement of cabin structure and can be equipped with wire-guided, laser-guided, autonomous missiles. Over
1300 EC135 / H135 / H135M airframes have been delivered since the helicopter entered service in 1996. In March 2015, Airbus Helicopters
renamed its entire product line to better reflect its closer allignment with ist parent company and simplify the naming convention for
the portfolio. Therefore, the EC135 T3/P3 were renamed as “H135” as stated in revison No.EASA.R.009 Issue: 07 of the Type Certificate
Data Sheet for EC135 dated 18 March 2015. “H135M” is used as marketing designation for the military EC635 P3(CPDS); EC635 P3H; EC635 T3(CPDS)
and EC635 T3H helicopters. The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the EC135 / H135 helicopters is EC35.
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.
On 16 May 2002, the 2002-built Eurocopter EC135 P2 s/n 0240 was permited
to fly with the Eurocopter Germany test registration D-HECA. On 30
August 2002, the helicopter was registered SE-HPX in Sweden with
Rikspolisstyrelsen, Stockholm. In service with the Swedish Polis
Aviation Unit the helicopter was coded 8-0946 and used call sign Polis
"946". On 12 November 2007, the EC135 P2 SE-HPX was one of four
helicopters damaged by vandals at Göteborg-Säve airport. Next to the
SE-HPX the Polis' EC135 P2 SE-HPT and SE-HPZ-and Bell 206B2 SE-HPK were
damaged by smashing the windows and damaging the fuselages of the
helicopters. The Swedish Polis Aviation Unit operated eight EC135 P2
helicopters, of which one was destroyed by hangar fire and one was
damaged beyond repair in an accident. In service with the Swedish Polis Aviation Unit, the SE-HPX
was modified from EC135 P2 to P2+. The EC135 P2s in service with
the Swedish Polis Aviation Unit will be replaced by seven Bell 429 helicopters. On 9 February 2015,
registration SE-HPX was cancelled as exported to Germany. The EC135 P2+ SE-HPX is the first of four
Rikspolisstyrelsen bought by HTM - Helicopter Travel Munich. On 25 February 2015, the helicopter was
registered D-HTMG in Germany with HTM - Helicopter Travel Munich and entered service with HTM Offshore
at Emden in April 2015. On 27 April 2015, when the aircraft was seen at Flugplatz Emden (EDWE), it
was operated by HTM Offshore on flights from and to Emden to transport people and equipment to the offshore windfarms.
For this work, the EC135 P2+ helicopter is equipped with emergency floats and a hoist.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
