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The Airbus Helicopters AS355 is a twin-engined light utility helicopter
that can accommodate up to 7 passengers. Development of the Ecureuil
started in the early 70s under the SNIAS (Societe nationale industrielle aérospatiale) banner with the
single-engined AS 350. The first flight of an Aérospatiale AS-350 took
place on 27 June 1994. A twin-engine version of the AS350, the AS355
Ecureuil 2 flew first on 28 September 1979. The Eucureuil 2 entered
production as the AS355 E. Early 1982, the AS355 F with a higher max
takeoff weight replaced the AS-355E in production. The AS355 F was
followed by the AS355 F1 in January 1984 and AS355 F2 in December 1985.
The AS355 N recieved the DCAG-F certification on 13 June 1989 and
deliveries of this model started in 1992. The AS355 N is fitted with two
Turbomeca Arrius 1A engines and a Full Authority Digital Engine Control
(FADEC) system for better M.T.O.W and better single engine performance.
The AS355 NP Ecureuil recieved the EASA certification on 15 February
2007. The AS355 NP Ecureuil 2 is fitted with two Turbomeca Arrius 1A1
turboshaft engines and a new AS350 B3-based main gearbox, increasing
maximum take-off weight to 2,800 kg. The AS355 Ecureuil 2 was
marketed in North America as the 'TwinStar'. In September 2015, Airbus Helicopters
announced that the AS355 production was to continue through 2016 until the existing
order backlog was fulfilled and then terminated.
The ICAO Aircraft Type
Designator for the AS355 helicopters is AS55. |
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The helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aérospatiale from
France merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group. 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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The in February 1991-built Aérospatiale
AS355 F2 Twin Star s/n 5473 was registered N355AH with American
Helicopter Corp., in May 1991. The N355AH was transfered to Tex-Air Helicopters Inc.
ERA Aviation and Tex-Air Helicopters merged by 31 March 2005.
Registration N355AH was cancelled on 19 January 2007. At that time,
Wells Fargo Bank Northwest Trustee was the registered owner.
Registration N300LG was reserved in the USA but not taken up. On 16
March 2007, the AS355 F2 Twin Star was registered C-FXGO in Canada with
Heli-Lynx Helicopter Services Inc., Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada. Heli-Lynx
Helicopter Services Inc. converted the aircraft into an 355FX2R and the
aircraft was delivered as an Heli-Lynx 355FX2R in February 2008. Part of
the conversion into an Heli-Lynx 355FX2R is a simplified electrical
system, which makes it easier to fix and also more robust, Honeywell LTS
101 700D-2 turbo shaft engines and an engine inlet barrier filter (IBF)
system. On 28 April 2008, the Heli-Lynx 355FX2R was transferred to Heli
Ontario Inc., St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Heli-Lynx 355FX2R C-FXGO was
exported to Poland and based at Katowice. On 23 November 2012,
registration C-FXGO was cancelled as exported to Poland and the
helicopter was registered SP-SSN.
On 11 May 2015, the Heli-Lynx 355FX2R SP-SSN was seen at the Heli-Holland heliport
near Emmen in the Netherlands. |
Luchtvaart déjà vu
