Eurocopter Dauphin

The Eurocopter SA 365/AS365 Dauphin 2 (Dolphin) is a medium-weight multipurpose twin-engine helicopter originally manufactured by Aérospatiale, later by Eurocopter. Several major variations of the Dauphin have been developed and entered production, including the military-orientated Eurocopter Panther, the HH/MH-65 Dolphin, the Chinese-produced Harbin Z-9 and the improved Eurocopter EC155.

Design and development

Developed from the single-engined Aérospatiale SA 360 Dauphin variant, the SA 365/AS365 Dauphin 2 is one of Eurocopter's most successful designs and is widely used as a corporate transport, airborne law enforcement platform, emergency medical services (EMS) helicopter, electronic news gathering platform, and search & rescue helicopter. One of the distinctive features of the Dauphin is its fenestron tail rotor.

The military version of the Dauphin is the Eurocopter Panther. The Dauphin is also used by the United States Coast Guard under the designation HH/MH-65 Dolphin. The Dauphin is also manufactured in China under licence as the Z-9 by the Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation, and subsequently developed as the armed versions WZ-9 and Z-19. More than 800 AS365/366/565 versions have been produced or ordered, with the 500th Dauphin (counting all models) having been delivered in 1991. More than 90 EC155s have been delivered.

Variants

Regarding the naming of the different variants, it should be noted that, until January 1990, the AS365 models were designated as SA 365.

Civil variants

SA 365 C

This twin-engined version of the Dauphin, designated as the Dauphin 2, was announced in early 1973. The first flight of the first prototype took place on 24 January 1975, with production model deliveries starting in December 1978. In comparison with the earlier model, the SA 365 C featured twin 470 kW (630 shp) Arriel 1 turboshafts in a new engine fairing, a Starflex main rotor hub and a higher maximum takeoff weight (3,400 kg or 7,495 lb). The aircraft's Fenestron anti-torque device featured 13 metal blades. Production of both the SA 360 and SA 365 C ceased in 1981, by which time approximately 40 SA 360s and 50 SA 365 C/C1s had been built. Both types were replaced by the SA 365 N.

SA 365 C1

Minor upgrade of the SA 365 C powered by Arriel 1A1.

AS365 N (originally SA 365 N)

This is a much improved version of the SA 365 C Dauphin 2, the first prototype flying on 31 March 1979. This version introduced the uprated 492 kW (660 shp) Arriel 1C turboshafts, a retractable tricycle undercarriage, enlarged tail surfaces, and revised transmission, main rotor, rotor mast fairing and engine cowlings. The aircraft's initial M.T.O.W. of 3,850 kg (8,488 lb) was later raised to 4,000 kg (8,819 lb). Deliveries of the production model began in 1982.

AS365 N1

Incorporating many of the improvements developed for the SA 366 G1 (HH-65 Dolphin), this version introduced upgraded 526 kW (705 shp) Arriel 1C1 turboshafts, an improved 11-blade Fenestron with wider-cord blades (which reduced the AS365 N1's noise signature), movable undercarridge doors replaced by simplified fairings and a higher gross weight of 4,100 kg (9,039 lb).

AS365 N2

This version – designated AS365 N2 from the outset – introduced the upgraded 549 kW (737 shp) Arriel 1C2 turboshafts, an uprated gearbox, increased maximum take-off weight of 4,250 kg (9,370 lb), redesigned cabin doors and revised interior, enlarged tail fin with all composite Fenestron. Deliveries of this version started in 1990. Licensed versions, called the Z-9 and Z-9A, were assembled in China.

AS365 N3

The high-performance AS365 N3 was developed for operations in 'hot and high' climates, and introduced 635 kW (851 shp) Arriel 2C turboshafts equipped with a single channel DECU (Digital Engine Control Unit) with manual reversion, mated to an uprated main transmission for better single engine performance. The AS365 N3 also features a redesigned ten blade composite Fenestron anti-torque device with asymimmetic blade distribution, offering a further reduction in noise signature. The AS365 N3's gross weight is 4,300 kg (9,480 lb). Production deliveries began in December 1998 and this version is currently still in production.

AS365 N4

Produced as the EC155.

AS365 X

Better known as the DGV 200 or Dauphin Grand Vitesse (High Speed Dauphin), the AS365 X was developed from the X-380 DTP (Developpement Technique Probatoire or Probatory Technical Development) testbed, first flown on 20 March 1989. The aircraft was first flown in the AS365 X configuration two years later in March 1991, and featured a smaller Fenestron, a new main rotor with five high-inertia blades with swept tips, a composite rotor hub/mast and 624 kW (837 shp) Turbomeca Arriel IX turboshafts. On 19 November 1991, this aircraft set a Class E1e (3,000 to 4,500 kg) speed record of 201 knots (372 km/h or 231 mph) over a 3 km triangular course.

EC155 B/B1

This version was originally to follow the N3 as the AS365 N4, and was announced at the 1997 Paris Airshow before being redesignated as the EC155 B. As with the N3 version, it has two Arriel 2C/2C2 turboshafts equipped with FADEC as well as a five blade Spheriflex main rotor (derived from the AS365 X DGV). It also features a 30% larger main cabin (achieved with bulged doors and cabin plugs). The first flight of the first prototype took place on 17 June 1997 and this version is currently in production (as the EC155 B1).

Military versions

AS565 Panther

• See Eurocopter AS565 Panther

MH/HH-65 Dolphin

The SA 366 G1 Dauphin version was selected by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in 1979 as its new air-sea rescue helicopter and given the designation HH-65A Dolphin. In total 99 helicopters, optimised for the USCG's short-range recovery (SRR) search and rescue role, were initially acquired, with additional aircraft later procured.

Operators

Civilian operators

The Dauphin is flown by a range of private operators, companies, emergency services, government agencies and air charter companies.

Military operators

 Australia

• Victorian Police^[1]
• Western Australia Police^[2]

 Argentina

• Argentine Coast Guard^[3]

 Bangladesh

• Bangladesh Army^[4]

 Chile

• Navy^[5][6]

 Republic of China

• National Airborne Service Corps^[7]

 France

• French Navy^[8]
• Securite Civile^[9]

 Greece

• Coast Guard^[10]

 Iceland

• Icelandic Coast Guard^[11]

 Ireland

• Irish Air Corps (retired in 2006)^[12][13]

 Kuwait

• Kuwait Police^[14]

 Lithuania

• Lithuanian Air Force (3 on order)^[15][16]

 Malaysia

• Maritime Enforcement Agency^[17]

 Saudi Arabia

• Royal Saudi Naval Forces^[18][19]

 Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka Air Force^[20]

 United Kingdom

• Royal Navy^[21][22]
• Army Air Corps^[21][23]

 United States

• United States Coast Guard^[24]

 Uruguay

• Uruguayan Air Force^[25][26]

Specifications (AS365 N3)

Data from {Eurocopter.com}^[27]

• Crew: 1 or 2 pilots
• Capacity: 11 passengers
• Length: 13.73 m (45 ft 1 in)
• Height: 4.06 m (13 ft 4 in)
• Empty weight: 2,411 kg (5,315 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 4,300 kg (9,480 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Turboméca Arriel 2C turboshaft, Take-off Power, 625 kW (838 hp) each
• Main rotor diameter: 11.94 m (39 ft 2 in)
• Main rotor area: 111.98 m² (1,205.3 sq ft)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 306 km/h (190 mph; 165 kn)
• Ferry range: 827 km (514 mi; 447 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 5,865 m (19,242 ft)
• Rate of climb: 8.9 m/s (1,750 ft/min)

See also

Related development

• Aérospatiale SA 360
• HH-65 Dolphin
• Eurocopter Panther
• Eurocopter EC 155
• Harbin Z-9

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Kamov Ka-60
• Agusta A109
• Bell 222/230
• Sikorsky S-76

Related lists

• List of helicopters

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links

Commons has media related to Eurocopter Dauphin.

• Eurocopter
• Chinese Z-9