Eurocopter

The Eurocopter Group is a European helicopter manufacturing and support company formed in 1992 from the merger of German Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG (DASA) and the helicopter divisions of French Aérospatiale.

As a consequence of the merger of the Eurocopter Group's former parents, the firm is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS.

As of 2007, more than 9,800 Eurocopter helicopters were in service with over 2,500 customers in 140 countries.

Products

Eurocopter manufactures or has manufactured the following types of helicopters:

• Eurocopter AS 332 Super Puma - medium-sized twin-engined transport/utility helicopter
• Eurocopter AS 350/AS 355/EC 130 Ecureuil - light utility helicopter
• Eurocopter AS 365/SA 365 Dauphin - medium-weight multipurpose twin-engine helicopter
• Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar - twin-engined, medium-weight, multipurpose helicopter
• Eurocopter AS 550/AS 555 Fennec - single-engined, light-weight, multipurpose helicopter
• Eurocopter AS 565 Panther - military medium-weight multipurpose twin-engine helicopter
• Eurocopter EC 120 Colibri (with Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation) - 5-seat, single-engine, single main rotor, light helicopter
• Eurocopter EC 130 - light helicopter
• Eurocopter EC 135 - twin-engine civil helicopter
• Eurocopter EC 145 - twin-engine medium utility helicopter
• Eurocopter EC 155 - long-range medium-lift passenger transport helicopter
• Eurocopter EC 175 - medium-sized twin-engined transport/utility helicopter (Unveiled at the Heli-Expo 2008) first flight planned 2009
• Eurocopter EC 225 - long-range passenger transport helicopter
• Eurocopter EC 635 - military light multi-purpose helicopter
• Eurocopter EC 665 Tiger - military attack helicopter
• Eurocopter EC 725 Cougar - long-range tactical transport helicopter
• MBB Bo 105 - light, twin-engine, multi-purpose utility helicopter
• MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 (with Kawasaki Heavy Industries) - twin-engined medium utility/transport helicopter
• NH90 - medium sized, twin-engine, multi-role military, fly-by-wire helicopter (via joint venture)

Due to its 62.5%-share, Eurocopter also participates on the production of the NH90 Utility Helicopter Project. On some of Eurocopter's aircraft the main rotor turns clockwise when viewed from above, unlike most American rotorcraft. This requires the pilot to make pedal movements that are the opposite to those learned if previous flying has been on an American aircraft. On models developed in Germany or with their input (BK 117, EC 135, EC 145, UHT Tiger, Bo 105, et cetera) this is not the case. Eurocopter also pioneered the use of the "fenestron", an enclosed tail-rotor, which is more efficient and safer than the exposed version.

Gallery

References

External links

• Official Eurocopter Website
• Official EADS Website
• Jane's Defence Weekly on US Army award of a utility helicopter contract to EADS North America
• Eurocopter timeline at Helis.com
• Video of the Everest summit landing