The Airbus Helicopters AS350 B3e is a single-engined utility helicopter that can
accommodate up to 7 passengers. Development of the AS 350 Ecureuil
started in the early 70s under the Aérospatiale banner. The first flight
of an AvcoLycoming LTS101-powered machine took place on 27 June 1994.
The second prototype was fitted with an Arriel 1A and took to the air on
14 February 1975. Certification (with a Turboméca Arriel 1B turboshaft
powerplant) was achieved on 27 October 1977. The single-engined AS 350B2,
powered with a Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 engine was certified in April 1989.
The helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aerospatiale from
France merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group. The
Eurocopter AS350 B3 is a high-performance version of the AS350 series, powered by a Arriel
2B engine equipped with a single channel (DECU) Digital Engine Control
Unit with a mechanical backup system. The AS350 B3, made its first
flight from Marignane on 4 March 1997. Latest upgrade of the AS350 is
the AS350 B3e (enhanced) version that is fitted with a Turboméca Arriel
2D engine. The AS350 B3e model was approved by the EASA on 17 June 2011
and has next to the new engine, a new interior design, tail rotor
improvements and optimised optional equipment. The new console
panel’s concept “Multibloc” is installed since aircraft S/N 7218. The
AS350 B3e has an upgraded MTOW of 2370 kg when dual hydraulic. Over 6500
AS350 models had been delivered worldwide. The AS 350 is marketed as
Ecureuil. The AS350 Ecurieul is also known Squirrel and is marketed as
Esquilo in Brazil and AStar in the USA. In the USA, the AS350 is also known
as SuperStar. Since March 2015, Airbus Helicopters uses “H125” as marketing designation for the AS350 B3e helicopter.
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 15 May 2019, Airbus Helicopters AS350 B3e s/n 8686 was registered N565AH with the Airbus Helicopters Inc. On 18 October 2019, AS350 B3e AStar N565AH
was delivered to Marine 1 LLC, Fairfield, Connecticut. In service with Marine 1 LLC, the AS350 B3e AStar was registered N988MD. The operational base of
the 2019-built Airbus Helicopters H125 N988MD is the helideck of the 87 meter long research vessel OceanXplorer I. This exploration ship owned by patron
Ray Dalio is equipped with all the necessary resources to explore the oceans, including Airbus Helicopters H125 N988MD. Special about the helicopter is
that it is equipped with air condition. On 27 June 2023, OceanX' Airbus Helicopters AS350 B3e AStar N988MD was seen at the Heli Holland heliport near
Emmen. The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the AS350 / H125 helicopters is AS50.
