Country of origin:

France

Description:

Light general-purpose utility helicopter

Power Plant:

(AS 350B)

One 477 kw (640 shp) Turbomeca Arriel turboshaft

Specifications:

History:

The prototype of the Ecureuil (Squirrel) light utility helicopter, powered by a Lycoming LTS 101 turboshaft, was flown for the first time on 27 June 1974. On 14 February 1975, the second prototype was flown, powered by the French Arriel turboshaft. The type subsequently entered production in France at an initial rate of 14 machines per month for the world market. It became very popular in its intended role, with more than 2,000 examples built, and production continued. More than 200 examples have seen service in this region. Aircraft sold on the American market have been known as the A-Star. The type has also been built under licence in Brazil as the Esquilos and more than 250 examples have been built by Helibras.

Customer deliveries began in April 1978, the first model available being the AS 350B with the Arriel engine, whereas those sold in America were the AS 350C with the Textron (Avco) Lycoming LTS 101 engine providing 459 kw (615 shp). The AS 350D followed with an up-rated engine. Further development led to the AS 350B1 with the 510 kw (684 shp) Arriel 1D engine for hot and high areas; the AS 350B2 with the Arriel 1D1 engine using the main and tail rotors installed on the AS 355F Ecureuil 2; and the AS 350B3, first flown on 4 March 1997, again aimed at hot and high areas. In later times military variants have been marketed as the AS 550 Fennec.

More than 2,500 examples have been built and the AS 350 series has been Europes most successful civil helicopter. It has been used for a variety of roles, including medevac and fire-bombing. Many have been used by media organisations.

The type has also been supplied to a number of military forces around the world, and examples were supplied to the Australian military forces. A total of 24 was obtained in 1985, six N22-013 (c/n 1726), N22-014 (c/n 1738), N22-015 (c/n 1739), N22-016 (c/n 1740), N22-017 (c/n 1755), and N22-018 (c/n 1758) entering service with HC723 at HMAS Albatross at Nowra, NSW, for utility work, including a limited interim operational role on the guided missile frigates HMAS Darwin and HMAS Adelaide, as well as the support vessel HMAS Success.

Twelve (A22-001 to A22-012) were obtained for No 5 Squadron RAAF for training, and search-and-rescue duties, being based at RAAF Fairbairn, ACT. In October 1983 the RAAF order was increased by a further six for search-and-rescue work at Williamtown, NSW, Pearce, WA, and Darwin, NT, these becoming A22-019 to A22-024 (c/ns 1768 to 1773).

First of the type seen in this region in the civil role was a demonstrator for the importers VH-SRA (c/n 1034).

Following retirement from RAN service a number were preserved, these including: N22-001 at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook, VIC; N22-015 at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra; N22-017 at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, ACT; N22-018 as a gate guard at HMAS Albatross at Nowra; N22-019 at the Museum of Army Aviation at Oakey, QLD; and N22-022 placed on a pole at Nyngan, NSW.

The type has been used extensively throughout Australia and New Zealand by helicopter operators.