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.
On 29 August 2003, the Airbus Helicopters EC155 B1 s/n 6660
was registered N155EW in the USA with Wells Fargo Bank Northwest NA
Trustee. On 17 November 2003, Dauphin II N155EW was registered with
Tex-Air Helicopters Inc., Houston, Texas. On 31 March 2005, Tex-Air Helicopters
and ERA Aviation merged and the EC155 B1 N155EW was registered with ERA Helicopters
LLC, Lake Charles, Louisiana. On 20 September 2006, registration N155EW was cancelled as exported to Denmark
and the next day, the aircraft was temporarily registered in Denmark as OY-HSK with DanCopter A/S, Holsted.
On 26 February 2007, the 2003-built EC155 B1 was registered OY-HSK with DanCopter A/S. DanCopter was part of
the Blueway Group. In December 2014, NHV Group acquired the Blueway Group, including DanCopter, Blueway Offshore
Norway, Airlift and Vertech Offshore. As before the former DanCopter EC155 B1 OY-HSK was operated by NHV from Norwich Airport (EGSH / NWI) in the UK. From
July 2015, after losing their contracts to CHC Scotia, the OY-HSK and the other five DanCopter EC155B1's were stored at the former operating
and engineering base of Norwich and at Denham in the UK. On 19 November 2014, the DanCopter A/S' Eurocopter EC155 B1 OY-HSK was seen at Airport Den Helder (EHKD). The ICAO Aircraft Type
Designator for both the EC155 and H155 helicopter is EC55.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
