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.
RTH (Rettungstransporthubschrauber) EC135 P2 D-HWFH "Christoph 30" was seen at the mobile helideck
of the ADAC-Luftrettungszentrum Wolfenbüttel, that is located next to the Städtisches Klinikum Wolfenbüttel in
Germany. Callsign "Christoph" is used for the German lifeliner helicopters since 1970 and is derived
of Saint Christophorus, the Patron Saint for all travellers. On 15 July 1983, operations at ADAC-Luftrettungszentrum
Wolfenbüttel began with the Sud-Aviation 365C2 Dauphin D-HOPQ "Phöenix 14" that belonged to Polizei-Hubschrauberstaffel
Niedersachen. At that time, Luftrettungszentrum Wolfenbüttel was operated by ADAC Gau Niedersachsen together with ADAC Luftrettung
that flew the helicopter. On 1 January 1985, ADAC Luftrettung GmbH replaced the Sud-Aviation 365C2 Dauphin D-HOPQ as "Christoph 30"
by a MBB BO-105 CBS of their own. In April 1986, ADAC-Luftrettungszentrum Wolfenbüttel was completed with a new hangar and other facilities
neaded for air rescue services. In 2003, the MBB BO-105 CBS was replaced in service with "Christoph 30" by an EC135 P2. On 3 May 2019,
EC135 P2 D-HWFH was seen in service as "Christoph 30". The 2003-built EC-135 P2 s/n 0277 was registered D-HWFH and delivered to ADAC
Luftrettung GmbH on 25 March 2003..
Luchtvaart déjà vu
