Helicopter AS350 (H125) Еcureuil

On June 27, the light, multi-purpose helicopter AS350 (H125) Écureuil, created by the European consortium Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters), turned 50 years old.

On that day in 1974, at the Marseille-Provence Airport in Marignane, in the south of France, its first prototype took flight. The new machine was intended to replace several outdated single-class aircraft, including the Alouette II. In addition to the main Airbus Helicopters plant in Marignane, the serial production of the AS350 was established at the company's plant in Columbus, Mississippi, USA, as well as at the facilities of its subsidiary Helibras in Itajubá, Brazil. The helicopter's design incorporated solutions aimed at improving manufacturability and reducing serial production costs, which in turn was supposed to ensure a relatively low price per unit and provide a significant advantage over competitors. This strategy was fully justified – over 7000 units of this family have already been built, and production continues.

The AS350 helicopter family is large and diverse. There are more than two dozen main civilian and military variants. Additionally, the AS355 and AS555 were developed based on it, evolving as separate types.

Among the most advanced versions is the AS350 B3, which is noted for its high altitude capabilities and even became the first helicopter to land nearly at the summit of Everest. The machine is equipped with a single Turbomeca Arriel 2B turboshaft engine with a power of 848 hp. The helicopter has a fuselage length of 10.93 m, a rotor diameter of 10.7 m, a maximum takeoff weight of 2250 kg, can accommodate 4-6 passengers, reaches a maximum speed of 259 km/h, and can cover more than 660 km.

The AS350 is considered one of the best in its class. It has excellent flight qualities, is reliable, easy to maintain, adapted for operation in extreme conditions, and equipped with modern equipment. These machines are capable of performing a wide variety of tasks: from transporting VIP passengers to rescue operations in high-altitude areas. It is not surprising that they have become popular worldwide. Various AS350 variants have been acquired by civilian and military structures in more than forty countries, including Argentina, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Cambodia, Canada, Nepal, South Africa, the USA, the Philippines, and France. At least 12 units of the H125 have also been received by the aviation of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.