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Eurocopter EC 135P2/T2

Type
Light twin-turbine multi-purpose helicopter (leichter zweimotoriger Mehrzweckhubschrauber)

Country (Land)
Germany (Deutschland)

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Eurocopter Deutschland
Postfach 801140
81663 München
Germany

Phone: 0049-89/6000-0
Fax: 0049-89/6000-9033
Internet: www.eurocopter.com

Helicopters with the Pratt & Whitney engine are designated as P1 or P2 (with higher rated version), while the Turbomeca variant is the T1 or T2 (the latter with the Arrius 2B2)

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 1 or 2
Passengers (Passagiere):
   - 5 to 7 in standard version
   - 4 or 5 in VIP layout
   - One litter and 3 seats for doctor and medical attendants
   - Two litters and 2 seats for doctor and attendant
External load capacity (Außenlast): 1260 kg

Power plant (Antrieb): 2 x Turboméca Arrius 2B2 or (oder) 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B2
Maximum power per engine (max. Leistung): The PW 206B2 has a take-off power of 463 kW (621 shp), a maximum continuous power of 419 kW (560 shp) and a 2 min emergency rating of 580 kW (77 shp). With the Arrius 2B2, take-off power is 452 kW (606 shp), maximum continuous is 426 kW (571 shp) and the emergency rating for two minutes is 580 kW (777 shp).
Main transmission ratings are 616 kW for take off and 566 kW max. continuous or 513 kW (687 shp) from a single engine in case of an emergency (2 minute limit).
Fuel consumption
   - 232 l/h at fast cruise speed, or 237 l/h with Arrius 2B2
   - 205 l/h at economical cruise speed or 219 l/h with Arrius 2B2

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Fuselage length (Rumpfänge): 10,20 m
Fuselage width (Rumpfbreite): 1,56 m
Width over stabiliser (Breite über alles): 2,65 m
Total length, rotors turning (Länge über alles): 12,16 m
Height (Höhe): 3,51 m
Rotor diameter (Hauptrotordurchmesser): 10,2 m
Main rotor disk area (Rotorkreisfläche): 81,7 sq m
Fenestron diameter (Durchmesser des Fenestron): 1,0 m
Tail rotor disk area (Fenestronkreisfläche): 2,84 sq m

Cabin length (Kabinenlänge): ca. 3,50 m
Cabin width (Kabinenbreite): 1,5 m
Cabin height (Kabinenhöhe): 1,26 m maximum, 1,15 m in the back
Cabin floor area (Kabinenfläche): 3,15 sq m plus 1,15 sq m for the pilot
Cabin volume (Kabinenvolumen): 3,8 cu m plus 1 cu m for the pilot
Baggage compartment volume (Gepäckraumvolumen): 1,1 cu m

Weights (Massen)
Empty weight (Leermasse): 1490 kg
Useful load (Zuladung): 1265 kg or less, depending on outfitting (EMS packages weight 83 to 152 kg)
Max. external load (max. Außenlast): 1260 kg
Max. fuel (max. Kraftstoff): 536 kg usable or 560 kg usable from production number 250
Max. fuel, long range tank (Langstreckentank): 722 kg
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 2835 kg
Max. take-off weight with external load (Max. Startmasse mit Außenlasten): 2900 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. speed (VNE) (max. Fluggeschwindigkeit): 259 km/h (140 kts)
Max. cruise speed (max. Reisegeschwindigkeit): 256 km/h (138 kts)
Economical cruise speed (wirtschaftliche Reisegeschw.): 229 km/h with PW engine or 239 km/h with Arrius 2B2
Service ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 3045 m (10000 ft)
Rate of climb (Steigrate): 7,6 m/s (1500 fpm)
Hover ceiling (Schwebeflughöhe)
    - IGE (im Bodeneffekt): 3045 m (10000 ft) at ISA or 2315 m at ISA + 20 deg C or 2255 m at ISA + 20 deg C with Arrius 2B2
    - OGE (ohne Bodeneffekt): 2190 m (7200 ft) at ISA, 1100 m at ISA + 20 deg C or 1005 m at ISA + 20 deg C with Arrius 2B2
Range (Reichweite):
   - 595 km (321 NM) at economical cruise speed, standard tank, with Arrius 2B2
   - 615 km (332 NM) at economical cruise speed, standard tank
   - 621 km (335 NM) at economical cruise speed, new 560 kg tank, with Arrius 2B2
   - 646 km (349 NM) at economical cruise speed, new 560 kg tank
   - 799 km (431 NM) with long range tanks, with Arrius 2B2
   - 805 km (434 NM) with long range tanks
Endurance at sea level (Einsatzdauer):
   - 3:15 hours with Arrius 2B2
   - 3:23 hours with new 560 kg tank, Arrius 2B2
   - 3:30 hours at 65 KIAS, no reserves
   - 3:39 hours at 65 KIAS, no reserves, with new 560 kg tank

Costs (Preise)
Flyaway cost was about 2,4 million US-Dollars in 1996.
Total direct operating cost were claimed at 365,89 US-Dollar per hour in August 1999 for the Turboméca-engined EC 135, and at 357,89 US-Dollars for a model with Pratt & Whitney engines.

Customers (Kunden)
In October 2002, Eurocopter handed over the EC 135 serial number 250.
By May 2002, Eurocopter claimed over 260 orders form more than 50 customers in 25 countries.
By June 2001, nearly 220 of the EC 135 had been sold to about 50 customers in 20 countries. The order book had passed the 100-mark by January 1998. Known customers include:

Abu Dhabi Police: one
ADAC Luftrettung (Germany): 12. Two ordered in June 2001 for delivery in July and August 2002
Airgreen (Italy): 1, handed over in July 1999.
Air Service 51 (France)
Basque Police (Spain): two
Bavarian Police (Germany): nine with PW206 engines
Bond Air Services (UK): 15 + ordered in 2000, equipped for single pilot IFR operations
Brandenburg Police (Germany): 2. Contract signed at the start of 2002.
Center of Emergency Medicine (USA)
Corporate Jets (USA): five ordered for EMS. Deliveries began in 1999 and will stretch over five years.
CoyotAir (Spain): 1. Handed over on 25 October 2002 as the 250th EC 135 serial helicopter
DAO (Argentina)
Delta System-Air (Czech Republic): 1, plus 3 options. Contract signed at ILA 2002 in Berlin.
Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht (Germany): 2. Took delivery on 25. April 2002, marking the start of a comprehensive fleet replacement programme running up to 2009. A framework agreement had been signed in August 1999.
Elifriula (Italy)
EuropAvia (Switzerland)
Greek Police: 2
Grenzschutz Fliegergruppe (German border guard): nine (plus two options) ordered December 1997 for transport and recce duties
Isamu Hirata (Japan): EMS work
Haier: 1 for delivery to China in VIP configuration
Heeresflieger (German army aviation): 15 ordered for 95 million DM in August 1997 as training helicopters. Official handover of the first EC 135 was on 13 September 2000.
Helicap (France): 13, of which 10 ordered for EMS work in a first batch, the last of which was handed over on 2. July 1998
Helicorp (Puerto Rico): one for corporate charter work, delivered in 1998.
Helicsa (Spain): six, for delivery from November 2002. Fitted with Arrius 2B2. Will be used for EMS
Hellenic Police (Greece): 2
Hood (UK)
Kuwaiti Police: 2
Laidlaw (UK)
Manichi Press (Japan)
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Police (Germany): two
MedSTAR (USA): one for delivery in March 2000. Operates EMS at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington D.C.
Metro Aviation (USA): EMS work
MFL (France)
Nakanihon Air Service (Japan): 1 (delivered in 2002)
Norsk Luftambulanse (Norway): six (first delivery in the summer of 2000)
ÖAMTC (Austria): 18. Seven for EMS work, delivered from August 1997. Another order for 11 more was placed at the end of September 2000. The last EC 135 was handed over on 28. May 2002.
Petroleum Helicopters (USA): three
Proteus (France)
Rheinland-Pfalz Police (Germany): 2. Leasing programme to replace Bo 105s. Deliveries started with an official ceremony on 10. July 2002.
Sachsen Police (Germany): 1
Sony (Japan): 2, 1 to be operated by Nakanihon Air Service
STAT MedEvac (USA): operating EMS services within a 200 mile radius of Pttsburgh, PA
Sultan of Pahang (Malaysia)
Swedish Police: 7. Ordered on 31. October 2000. Some wer optional at first. Deliveries started on 10 August 2001, with the last due to be handed over in 2003.
Temsco (USA): 1
TexAir (USA): 1
Travis County STAR Flight (USA): two for public safety operations in Texas

Eurocopter estimates the total market for the EC 135 at about 700 machines for delivery up to 2007.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
Bell Model 427
MD Helicopters Explorer

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The EC 135 is the successor to the MBB Bo 105 helicopter in the Eurocopter model lineup. It features new technology like a bearingless main rotor and a Fenestron tail rotor. Composites are used widely in the airframe. A Sextant Avionique Nouvelle system is fitted. Customers have the choice between the Turboméca Arrius and the PW206 engines.
Many options have been certified, like thermal imaging cameras, searchlights, rescue hoists and EMS kits. High-quality air conditioning systems and VIP interior finishing are also available.
Eurocopter is also offering a military variant, designated the EC 635. After loosing out in the South African competition, Portugal became the first customer in 1999.
Final assembly of the EC 135 is undertaken at the Donauwörth plant. It is broken down into thirteen individual sections at which specialized teams carry out tasks such as fitting the landing skids, cable routing and mounting the engines.

History (Geschichte)
The EC 135 can trace its history back to before the formation of Eurocopter. It was started as the Bo 108 by MBB in the mid-eighties. A technology demonstrator flew for the first time on 15 October 1988, powered by two Allison 205-C20R engines. A second Bo 108 followed onf 5 June 1991, this time with two turboméca TM319-1b Arrius engines. Both these machines had a conventional tail rotor.
In late 1992, the design was revised with the introduction of the Fenestron and some changes in the fuelage to enlarge the cabin for up to seven seats.
Two pre-production prototypes were built. The flew on 15 February and 16 April 1994, testing the Arrius 2B and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B engines. A third helicopter followed on 28 November 1994.
The EC 135 made its US debut at the Heli Expo in January 1995 at Las Vegas. After over 1600 flight hours, European JAA certification was achieved on 16. June 1996, with FAA approval following on 31. July. Deliveries started on 1. August, when two helicopers (0005 and 0006) were handed over to Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht.
The 100th EC 135 was handed over to the Bavarian police force in June 1999. By that time the worldwide fleet had clocked up around 30000 flight hours.
Single pilot IFR certification was granted by the German LBA on December 2, 1999.
Deliveries to the German Heeresflieger began on 13 September 2000 at the Waffenschule at Achum (Bückeburg).
In December 2000, the EC 135 won its single-pilot IFR certification from the UK CAA, essential for Bond Helicopters to use its machines ordered in the same year.
In the autumn of 2000, Eueocopter announced the start of certification work for the Pratt & Whitney PW206B2, a version of the PW207 which offers improved single-engine performance and 30 second emergency power. The LBA certification was achieved with some delay on 10 July 2001, and the first EC 135 with the new engines was handed over to the Swedish National Police on 10 August 2001.
By June 2001, the fleet of about 150 machines had logged 112000 flight hours. In February 2002, the Austrian ÖAMTC announced that his fleet of EC 135s had achieved 10000 flight hours since service entry in 1997.
From September 2002, the Arrius 2B2 was available; it features improved one engine inoperative power. Originally deliveries should have startd in July 2002.
On 25 October 2002, the 250th helicopter was handed over to Spanish company CoyotAir at Donauwörth.

Civil | Military | Helicopters | History | Spaceflight

Last updated 3 January 2003

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