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History Brief, by Johan Visschedijk

October 9, 2003

Aérospatiale AS 350 Ecureuil (Squirrel)/AStar


The AS 350 was intended as a successor to the Alouette II and Lama light general purpose helicopters. The first prototype (F-WVKH) flew on June 27, 1974, powered by a Avco Lycoming LTS 101 turboshaft, the second (F-WVKI) on February 15, 1975, powered by an Turboméca Arriel. Type certificate was obtained late 1977, by which time already over 300 orders were booked, 5 out of 6 orders coming from North America.

Of the initial production versions the Avco Lycoming powered AS 350D AStar was for the North American markets, the Turboméca powered AS 350B serving the other markets. The AStar version was assembled and finished in the US by Aérospatiale Helicopters Division at Grand Prairie, Texas. From the early nineties the military versions carried the designation AS 550 Fennec (Dessert Fox). The AS 350 was build under licence by Helibras of Brazil as the HB 350.

Standard seating is for 6 persons in a comfortable wide-body looking cabin, the airframe incorporating many parts made of new materials like polycarbonates, glass fibres, etc. The "Starflex" rotor head, made of composite material, reduces maintenance considerably, the use of components out of the motor-industry reduces costs.

A twin-engined version, the AS 355 Ecureuil 2, is used for close-offshore or inter-rig laisons and for work over towns by public bodies, like police, etc. Again there is a North American version, the Twin Star. The military version also received the name Fennec from the same moment on as it single-engined counterpart, with the designation AS 555. Under the designation HB 355 F2 Esquilo (Squirrel) it was assembled in Brazil.

The success of this helicopter may be clear by the fact that after 25 years it is still in production, although under the name of Eurocopter.

AS 350B Ecureuil Johan Visschedijk Collection

Specifications (AS 350 B)

Type:

multi-role general-purpose helicopter

Engine:

1 Turboméca Arriel 1D turbine

Rotor:

35.07 ft (10.69 m) in diameter

Length:

42.45 ft (12.94 m) rotor rotating

Height:

10.30 ft (3.14 m)

Width:

8.30 ft (2.53 m) rotor folded

Empty Wt:

2,443 lb (1,108 kg)

Max T/O Wt:

5,070 lb (2,300 kg) with external load

Max speed:

169 mph (272 km/h)

Max climb:

1,500 ft (450 m)/min

Ceiling:

9,400 ft (2,870 m)

Range:

407 mls (655 km)

Models

AS 350B Ecureuil:

initial production

AS 350BB Ecureuil:

trainer, as HT.1 to RAF, as HT.2 to RN

AS 350B3 Ecureuil:

from 1997 production version

AS 350D AStar:

initial production for North America

AS 350L:

original military version

AS 550A2 Fennec:

armed ground support

AS 550C2 Fennec:

anti-tank

AS 550C3 Fennec:

military counterpart of AS 350B3 Ecureuil

AS 550M2 Fennec:

naval utility

AS 550S2 Fennec:

naval armed

AS 550U2 Fennec:

utility

AS 355F Ecureuil 2:

AS 355F Twin Star:

AS 355FR Ecureuil 2:



AS 555AN Fennec:

armed ground support

AS 555MN Fennec:

naval utility

AS 555SN Fennec:

naval armed

AS 555UN Fennec:

utility