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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. |
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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. |
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On 26 February 2016, Eurocopter EC135 P2+ PH-MMT "Lifeliner Europe 4" was
photographed during taking off from the helipad of the Treant Scheper Ziekenhuis Emmen in Emmen,
the Netherlands. MMT (Mobil Medical Team) "Lifeliner Europe 4" is stationed at the helideck on the
roof of the UMCG in Groningen. Eurocopter EC135 P2+ c/n 0871 was test
flown with Eurocopter Deutschland test-registration D-HCBN. On 25 February
2010, the EC135 P2+ was registered PH-MMT in the Netherlands with ANWB
Medical Air Assistance, Utrecht, as holder. The 2010-built Eurocopter
EC135 P2+ PH-MMT is fitted with the new Inlet Barrier Filter. During the
“Open Dag van de Zorg” on 20 March 2010, ANWB Medical Air Assistance’
Eurocopter EC135P2+ PH-MMT was presented as the new "Lifeliner Europe 4"
at the UMCG in Groningen. The PH-MMT replaced EC135 P2
D-HSAN in service
as "Lifeliner Europe 4". After the D-HSAN was returned to ADAC
Luftrettung GmbH on 31 December 2009, Eurocopter EC135T2+ PH-HVB was
used as a temporarily replacement. PH-MMT entered service as
“Lifeliner Europe 4” on 21 March 2010. On 16 December 2019, Eurocopter EC135 P2+ PH-MMT was replaced in service as
"Lifeliner Europe 4" by Airbus Helicopters EC135 P3H PH-DOC, which helicopter is operated as "Lifeliner 4".
On 10 February 2020, registration PH-MMT was cancelled as exported to Germany. On 25 October 2019, registration D-HXAE
was reserved for this helicopter by ADAC Luftrettung GmbH, and the helicopter was seen as D-HXAE with ADAC Luftrettung in June 2020.
Eurocopter EC135 P2+ PH-MMT is one of six EMS-helicopters operated by ANWB Medical Air Assistance. The four EMS / Lifeliner helicopters
in the Netherlands are: "Lifeliner 1" with medical support from VUmc in Amsterdam; "Lifeliner 2" with
medical support from ErasmusMC in Rotterdam; "Lifeliner 3" with medical support from Radboudumc in
Nijmegen and "Lifeliner Europe 4" with medical support from UMC Groningen. ANWB Medical Air Assistance operates,
next to the four lifeliner helicopters, one EC135 T2+ and one H135 (EC135 P3H) helicopter for crew training and
as a spare aircraft for maintenance cover of the lifeliners. In the past, when needed for maintenance, ADAC
Luftrettung gave the MMT back-up service with EC135 P2 D-HHIT and/or D-HHTS. Next to the Lifeliner helicopters,
ANWB Medical Air Assistance operates two Airbus Helicopters H145 T2 (MBB-BK 117 D-2) helicopters from Leeuwarden AFB, commissioned by RAV Fryslân. |
Luchtvaart déjà vu
