The Airbus Helicopters EC155 B1 is a medium-weight multi-role utility twin
engine helicopter accommodating up to 12 passengers and 2 crew. The EC155 B is a development of the
AS365N Dauphin II,
with 40% larger cabin area, a new five-bladed Spheriflex main rotor with
an extremely low vibration level and 'glass cockpit'. The EC155 B1 is
powered by a pair of Turbomeca Arrius 2C2 turbine engines. The new
generation of Fenestron tail rotor takes part in the decrease in
external noise level. This tail rotor has 10 blades spaced irregularly
around the hub. Development of the EC-155, initially known as AS-365N-4
Dauphin started in September 1996. The development of the AS365 N4 wide
body helicopter was announced at International Paris Airshow in June
1997. A mockup of the N4 was shown at the International Paris Air Show
at Le Bourget and on 17 June 1997, the prototype EC155, F-WDFK, a
rebuilt Dauphin, flew first at Marignane. The first pre-poduction EC155
B flew on 11 March 1998. The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) and
the German Government Agencies (LBA) certification was awarded in
December 1998 and the EC 155 got its single-pilot IFR certificate on 25
January 2000. The first three Eurocopter EC 155 Bs were officially
handed over to the German Federal Ministry of the Interior /
Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS) at the Bonn-Hangelaar base of the BGS on 16
March 1999. The EC155 B1 is a development of the EC155 B with more
powerful engines and improved performance at high altitude and in hot
temperature conditions. Deliveries of the EC 155B1 version began in
September 2002. More than 170 EC155s have been sold. Since March 2015,
Airbus Helicopters uses 'H155' as marketing designation for the EC155 helicopters.
In 2015, Airbus Helicopters and Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) entered into an
agreement to transfer the core production operations of EC-155 helicopters to
South Korea. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) became the sole manufacturer of this type of helicopters.
Now the entire development of the helicopter rested on the KAI company, which started
the development of the helicopter into military versions. The LAH version was created
armed with a 20 mm cannon, side mounts for missiles, bombs and machine guns. The helicopter
can carry 10 armed soldiers on board. In 2023, Airbus Helicopters and local partner KAI
launched series production of the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) – derived from the former’s
H155 medium-twin – with deliveries to commence in 2024.
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.
Eurocopter France used test-registration F-WQEP for the 2003-built Eurocopter EC155 B1 s/n 6652.
On 22 March 2004, the EC155 B1 was registered N672LE with HEC01 LLC, Wilmington (DL), USA.
VIP-Eurocopter EC155 B1 N672LE is based at Blackbushe in the UK.
Registration N672LE was cancelled on 9 December 2009 and the Dauphin II
was registered G-LBAI in the UK with Polaris Aviation Ltd., Leatherhead,
on 11 December 2009. As before the G-LBAI was based at Blackbushe. On 23
February 2012, registration G-LBAI was cancelled as exported to the USA,
and the same the EC155 B1 was registered N151MP with American Eurocopter
Corp., Grand Prairie, Texas. On 7 February 2014, EC155 B1 N151MP was
registered with Airbus Helicopters Inc., Grand Prairie, Texas. On 7 October 2014,
registration N151PM was cancelled as exported to the Dominican Republic, where it entered service with Eslla Presidencial as '3070'.
On 1 March 2008, Eurocopter EC155 B1 N672LE was seen at Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM/EHRD)
in the Netherlands. The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for both the EC155 and H155 helicopter is EC55.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
