The Eurocopter AS350 Ecureuil ("Squirrel") is a single-engined light helicopter originally manufactured by Aérospatiale (now part of Eurocopter Group). The AS350 is marketed in North America as the AStar. The AS355 Ecureuil 2 is a twin-engined variant, while the Eurocopter EC130 is a derivative of the AS350 airframe. [edit] Design and development Development began in the early 1970s to replace the Alouette II, and the first flight took place on 27 June 1974.[1] Despite the introduction of the EC130, production of the Eurocopter AS350 remains strong. Both single and twin-engined versions have been built under licence by Helibras in Brazil. [edit] Operational history On May 14, 2005 a standard-configured Ecureuil AS350 B3 piloted by Eurocopter test pilot Didier Delsalle touched down on the top of Mt. Everest, at 8,850 meters (29,035 feet) .[2] This record has been confirmed by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. [3] [edit] Variants [edit] Single engine  A Canadian AS350 BA AStar  A Eurocopter AS350 dips its bucket into a swimming pool before returning to drop the water on a wildfire outside of Naples, Italy - AS350
- Prototype.
- AS350 Firefighter
- Fire fighting version.
- AS350B
- Powered by one Turbomeca Arriel 1B engine.
- AS350 B1
- Improved version of the original AS350B, which is powered by one Arriel 1D engine, type also fitted with AS355 main rotor blades, AS355 tail rotor with tabs and a tail rotor servo.
- AS350 B2
- Higher gross weight version powered by one Arriel 1D1 engine over the B1 version with aerodynamic strake fitted to tail boom along the starboard side and angled engine exhaust duct for better yaw control.
- AS350 B3
- High-performance version, is powered by a Arriel 2B engine equipped with a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system. This helicopter is the first ever to land on Mount Everest. Recently introduced AS350 B3/2B1 variant introduces enhanced engine with dual digital FADEC, dual hydraulics and a 2,370 kg (5,225 lb) M.T.O.W.
- AS350 BA
- Powered by a Arriel 1B engine and fitted with wider chord AS355 main rotor blades and tail rotor servo.
- AS350 BB
- AS350 B2 variant selected to meet rotary-wing training needs of UK MoD, through its Defence Helicopter Flying School in 1996. Powered by a derated Arriel 1D1 engine to improve the helicopters' life cycle.
-
- Eurocopter Squirrel HT.1
- Designation of AS350BB in operation with British RAF as a training helicopter.
- Eurocopter Squirrel HT.2
- Designation of AS350BB in operation with British Army Air Corps as a training helicopter.
- AS350 C
- Initial variant of Lycoming LTS-101-600A2 powered version developed for the North American market as the AStar. Quickly superseded by AS350D.
- AS350 D
- Powered by one Lycoming LTS-101 engine for the North American market as the AStar. At one stage marketed as AStar 'Mark III.'
- AS350 L1
- Military derivative of AS350 B1, powered by a 510-kW (684-shp) Turbomeca Arriel 1D turboshaft engine. Superseded by AS350 L2.
- AS350 L2
- Military derivative of AS350 B2, powered by a 546-kW (732-shp) Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 turboshaft engine. Designation superseded by AS550 C2.
- HB350 B Esquilo
- Unarmed military version for the Brazilian Air Force. Brazilian designations CH-50 and TH-50. Built under licence by Helibras in Brazil.
- HB350 B1 Esquilo
- Unarmed military version for the Brazilian Navy. Brazilian designation UH-12. Built under licence by Helibras in Brazil.
- HB350 L1
- Armed military version for the Brazilian Army. Brazilian designation HA-1. Built under licence by Helibras in Brazil.
[edit] Aftermarket conversions - Soloy Super D
- AS350 BA powered by an LTS101-600A-3A engine.
- Soloy Super D2
- AS350 B2 powered by an LTS101-700D-2 engine.
- Heli-Lynx 350FX1
- AS350 BA powered by an LTS101-600A-3A engine.
- Heli-Lynx 350FX2
- AS350 BA or AS350 B2 powered by an LTS101-700D-2 engine.
- Otech AS350BA+
- AS350 BA powered by an LTS101-600A-3A engine [4].
[edit] Operators [edit] Military operators  RAN Squirrel helicopter acrobatic demonstration at the 2008 Melbourne Grand Prix  Australia  Botswana  Brazil  Central African Republic  Chile  Ecuador  Paraguay  Senegal United Kingdom  Vietnam [edit] Law Enforcement operators  Austria - Botswana
- Brazil
- Various police departments operates the HB350 Esquilo
 Canada  Mexico - Mexico's City Condor Group operate a handful of AS350 B3's.[8][9]
 South Africa  United States [edit] Civilian operators  AS350 B3 heli-ski helicopter operated by Jet Systems at Les Arcs  AS350 B2 operated by Heliflite picking up hikers in Enontekiö, Finland. - Austria
- Wucher Helicopter[12] operates the AS350 B3.
- Australia
- Canada
- Chile
- Ecocopter (AS350) [14]
- Helicopters.cl (AS350 B3)[15]
- Kipreos (AS350 BA)[16]
- SumaAir (AS350 B3)[17]
 Finland - Heliflite Oy in the arctic Finland[18]
 Hungary - 3 AS350 B in service with Hungarian Air Ambulance Service, all of them received general overhaul in 2005-2007.[19]
 Iran - Iran uses several of them for geological survey and oil exploration.[20]
 Iceland - 1 AS350 B2 is operated by Northflight.
 Italy - Fireman Helicopters Group, Autonomous Province of Trento [21] utilizes two AS350 B3 for mountain rescue, fire service, transport service and various civil defence activities.
 New Zealand - Volcanic Air Safaris operates one AS350B Squirrel helicopter, registered ZK-IAB. The AS350B is commonly used for sight seeing, corporate charters, tourism, aerial video and promotions.
- As of August 2009 there are 118 AS350/AS355 helicopters on the New Zealand civil aircraft register[22]
 Portugal - Helibravo, Aviação Lda, has AS350 B2 and B3 used in various missions, from VIP transport to firefighting passing through aerial photograph and filming.
- EMA (Empresa de Meios Aereos) has AS350 B3 used in firefighting.
- HeliPortugal has nine AS350 B2 and B3 for various missions.
- South Africa
- Netcare 911 uses the AS350B2 and B3 variants for Air Medical Services. South African Red Cross Air Mercy Services uses 4 AS350B2 variants for medical evacuations. N.A.C Helicopters utilises the AS350B for charter.
 Sweden - The old Swedish firm Jamtlands Flyg operates one AS350 B2 mainly in the mountainous regions bordering Norway[23]
- United States
- Care Flight Part of REMSA Emergency medical transport in Reno Nevada uses four AS350 all leased and ran by another company with REMSA flight paramedic and flight nurse.
- Flight for Life Emergency medical transport based near Denver, Colorado operates four leased AS350.
- Air Maui [24] operates air tours of the island of Maui, Hawaii using a fleet of ASTAR's.
- Safari Helicopters on the Hawaiian islands of Kauai and Hawai'i.[25]
- Jack Harter Helicopters fly AS350s on scenic flights on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.[26]
[edit] Notable accidents - On 27 July 2007, two AS350s collided in mid-air while reporting a police pursuit.The two helicopters were part of KNXV-TV and KTVK television stations in Phoenix, Arizona. Four crew members were killed by this accident.[27]
- On 15 September 2007, former World Rally Championship driver Colin McRae and three passengers were killed when his AS350 B2 Squirrel,[28] which he was piloting, crashed near Lanark, Scotland.[29][30]
- On 8 August 2009, a Piper PA-32R collided with an AS350 over the Hudson River, with both aircraft crashing into the Hudson River. There were no survivors from the crash.
- On 14 November 2009, a Mountain Life Flight Air Ambulance crashed outside of Reno Nevada, on its way back to base in Susanville. The crash happened after dropping off a patient to Renown Medical Center. All three crew members died in the crash.
[edit] Specifications (AS350 B3) Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000 [31] General characteristics - Crew: 1
- Capacity: 6
- Length: 10.93 m[32] (35 ft 10½ in)
- Rotor diameter: 10.69 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 Avionics
Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD) with First Limit Indicator (FLI) fitted as standard. [edit] See also Related development Comparable aircraft Related lists [edit] References - Taylor, Michael J.H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London:Brassey's, 1999. ISBN 1 85753 245 7.
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