Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil

Aerospatiale AS 350B Ecureuil F-GIBM ABC HelicoptersAerospatiale AS 350B Ecureuil F-GIBM ABC Helicopters

The Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil (Squirrel) is a single-engine light helicopter originally designed and manufactured in France by Aérospatiale (now Airbus Helicopters). In North America, the AS350 is marketed as the AStar.

  • Role: Light utility helicopter
  • National origin: France
  • Manufacturer: Aérospatiale/Eurocopter/Airbus Helicopters
  • First flight: 26 June 1974
  • Introduction: 1975
  • Status: In service
  • Produced: 1975 – present
  • Variants: Eurocopter AS355, AS550 Fennec
  • Developed into: Eurocopter EC130

Specifications (AS350 B3)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 5
  • Length: 10.93 m (35 ft 10½ in)
  • Rotor diameter: 10.7 m (35 ft 1 in)
  • Height: 3.14 m (10 ft 3½ in)
  • Disc area: 89.75 m² (966.1 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 1,174 kg (2,588 lb)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 2,250 kg (4,960 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Turbomeca Arriel 2B turboshaft, 632 kW (847 shp)

Performance

  • Never exceed speed: 287 km/h (155 knots, 178 mph)
  • Cruise speed: 245 km/h (132 knots, 152 mph)
  • Range: 662 km (357 nmi, 411 mi)
  • Endurance: 4.1 hrs
  • Service ceiling: 4,600 m (15,100 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 8.5 m/s (1,675 ft/min)

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