Eurocopter EC130

EC130 Ecureuil
One of the Long Beach Police Department's EC130 B4 helicopters refuels at Rialto, California.
Role	Light utility
Manufacturer	Eurocopter
First flight	24 June 1999
Introduction	2001
Unit cost	~US$2.1M, €1.75M
Developed from	Eurocopter AS350

The Eurocopter EC130 is a single engine light helicopter developed from the AS350 Ecureuil airframe. Eurocopter has called the EC130 "the Alouette III successor".

Design and development

The EC130 is a wide body variant of the AS350 B3 and was first flown on 24 June 1999 by Australian test pilot, Steven Page. The EC130 features an enclosed tail fan rather than the traditional tail rotor found on the older AS350. This Fenestron has unevenly spaced blades which has the advantage of reducing outside noise by 50% compared to a tail rotor, resulting in an FAA Appendix H fly-over noise signature of 84.3 EPNdB, 8.5 dB below stage two limits. The EC130 was designed in close cooperation with tour operators, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters being the launch operator, and features a spacious cockpit with excellent external visibility, capable of accommodating seven tourists. The EC130 entered service with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters in 2001, and is now a common sight in Hawaii and the Grand Canyon.

The EC130 is also quickly becoming popular within the air medical services (AMS) community, due to its large cabin (capable of accommodating one or two stretchers), wide side door and enclosed Fenestron anti-torque device.

In 2012, Eurocopter received orders for 50 EC130T2 from Maverick Helicopters, and other customers such as Papillon and Blue Hawaiian took the total to 105.

Variants

Johann Lafer Heli Gourmet EC130

Helibrás EC130 B4.

Skyheli Ltd EC130

EC130 B4 used by Liberty Helicopters, New York.

EC130 B4

basic version.

EC130T2

Upgraded airframe, engines (Turbomecca Ariel 2D), and increased performance.[1]

Operators

Australia

• 12 Apostles Helicopters

Brazil

• Paraná State Police

Bangladesh

• R&R Aviation

Canada

• Ontario Ministry Of Natural Resources
• Silverline Helicopters Inc.

Monaco

• Heli Air Monaco

New Zealand

• Over The Top Helicopters

Netherlands

• Heli Holland

Portugal

• Helibravo Helicopters

United Arab Emirates

• Falcon Aviation Services

United States

• Air Methods
• Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
• Broward County Sheriff's Office
• Long Beach Police Department (California)|Long Beach Police Department
• Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters

Specifications (EC130 B4)

Data from {Eurocopter EC130 B4 2008 tech data book}

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 (pilot in left seat)
• Capacity: 6 passengers (2 at front and four at back) can be modified to take 7 passengers (3 at front and four at back)
• Length: 10.68 m (35 ft)
• Rotor diameter: 10.69 m (35 ft 1in)
• Height: 3.34 m (10 ft 11 in)
• Empty weight: 1,377 kg (3,036 lbs)
• Useful load: 1,050 kg (2,315 lbs)
• Max. takeoff weight: 2,427 kg (5,351 lbs)
• Powerplant: 1 × Turbomeca Arriel 2B1 turboshaft, 632 kW (847 shp)

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 287 km/h (155 knots, 178 mph)
• Cruise speed: 240 km/h (130 knots, 150 mph)
• Range: 610 km (329 nm, 378 mi)
• Service ceiling: : 4,770 m (15,655 ft)
• Rate of climb: 9.0 m/s (1,770 ft/min)

Avionics
Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD) with First Limit Indicator (FLI) fitted as standard.

See also

{{Aircontent

• Eurocopter AS350
• Eurocopter AS355
• Eurocopter Fennec
• Bell 407
• MD Helicopters MD 600
• AgustaWestland AW119

}}

External links

• Eurocopter EC130 Ecureuil page
• EASA Type Certificate R.008 AS350/EC130
• The ECOSTAR: A new era in Helicopter Tourism