Eurocopter EC 130

Infobox Aircraft
name = EC 130

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caption = One of the Long Beach Police Department's EC130 B4 helicopters refuels at Rialto, California.
type = Light utility
manufacturer = Eurocopter
designer =
first flight = 24 June 1999
introduced = 2001
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built =
unit cost = ~US$2.1M
developed from = Eurocopter Ecureuil
variants with their own articles =

The Eurocopter EC130 (full designation EC130 B4) is a light helicopter developed from the AS350 Ecureuil airframe.

Design and development

The EC130 is a 'wide-body' variant of the single-engine AS350 B3, and was first flown on 24 June 1999. The EC130 features an enclosed tail fan rather than the traditional tail rotor found on the older AS350. This Fenestron (French for 'small window') has the advantage of reducing outside noise by 50% compared to a tail rotor, resulting in an FAA Appendix H fly-over noise signature of 84.3 EPNdB, 8.5 EPNdB below stage 2 limits. The EC130 was designed in close cooperation with tour operators, and features a spacious cockpit with excellent external visibility, capable of accommodating seven tourists. The EC130 entered service with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters in 2001, and is now a common sight in Hawaii and the Grand Canyon.

The EC130 is also quickly becoming popular within the air medical services (AMS) community, due to its large cabin (capable of accommodating one or two stretchers), wide side door and enclosed Fenestron anti-torque device. The world's largest AMS operator, Air Methods, already operates six EC130s.

Variants

;EC130 B4:Popularly known by its unofficial name 'Eco-Star,' the EC130 is based on the powerplant, transmission and main rotor of the AS350 B3, but features a widened 8-place cabin, low-noise Fenestron anti-torque device, dual-hydraulics and EC120-style 'moustache' type energy-attenuating skid landing gear. The EC130 is powered by a Turbomeca Arriel 2B1 equipped with dual-FADEC Full Authority Digital Engine Control.

Operators

Law Enforcement operators

;USA
*Broward County Sheriff's Office uses one Eurocopter EC130 B4 helicopter.
* Long Beach Police Department uses two Eurocopter EC130 B4 helicopters.

Civilian operators

;AUS
*The Adelaide Bank Rescue Helicopter Service operates an EC130 B4 for emergency situations. It is also made available to the South Australian Police who use the aircraft for both crime prevention and also in the pursuit of motor vehicles and suspects.

;CAN
* 3x EC130 B4 in service Great Slave Helicopters, based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

;GER
* 1x EC130 B4 in service with Johann Lafer's Heli Gourmet service which combines helicopter travel with an outdoor eatingexperience. [ [http://www.eurocopter.com/publications/FO/scripts/newsFO_complet.php?lang=EN&news_id=405 Eurocopter Press Release - Eurocopter & Johann Lafer's "Heli Gourmet" Display Brand New EC130 B4 At ILA] ]

;MCO
* 2x EC130 B4 in service with Heli Air Monaco.

;nzl
* 1x EC130 B4 in service with Over The Top, a helicopter tour company based in Queenstown. [ [http://www.experiencequeenstown.co.nz/news/tourism/61/helicopter-co-leads-way-with-35-mil-aircraft.html Helicopter Co Leads Way With $3.5 Mil Aircraft ] ]

;NED
* 4x EC130 B4 in service with Heli Holland.

;UAE
* 1x EC130 B4 in service with Falcon Aviation Services and 2 more ordered in 2007. [ [http://www.eurocopter.com/publications/FO/scripts/newsFO_complet.php?lang=EN&news_id=482 Eurocopter Press Release - FAS Enlarges Its Fleet & Orders 2 EC130 & 2 AS365 N3 Eurocopter Helicopters] ]

;USA
* 6x EC130 B4 helicopters in service with air medical services provider Air Methods.
* 9x EC130 B4 helicopters in service with tour operator Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.
* 3x EC130 B4 helicopters in service with tour operator Grand Canyon Helicopters.
* 25x EC130 B4 helicopters in service with tour operator Maverick Helicopters based in Las Vegas.
* 3x EC130 B4 helicopters in service with air medical services provider Medi Flight Oklahoma, based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
* 7x EC130 B4 in service with tour operator Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters.
* 2x EC130 B4 in service with tour operator Sundance Helicopters, based in Las Vegas.
* 6x EC130 B4 in service with tour operator Sunshine Helicopters in Hawaii.

pecifications

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?= copter
jet or prop?= prop

ref={Eurocopter EC130 B4 2008 tech data book}
crew= 1
capacity= 7
length main= 10.68 m
length alt= 35.03 ft
span main= 10.69 m
span alt= 35.07 ft
height main= 3.61 m
height alt= 11.84 ft
area main=
area alt=
airfoil=
empty weight main= 1,377 kg
empty weight alt= 3,036 lbs
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main= 1,050 kg
useful load alt= 2,315 lbs
max takeoff weight main= 2,427 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 5,351 lbs
more general=
engine (prop)= Turbomeca Arriel 2B1
type of prop= turboshaft
number of props= 1
power main= 632 kW
power alt= 847 shp
power original=
max speed main=
max speed alt=
cruise speed main= 240 km/h
cruise speed alt= 130 knots, 150 mph
never exceed speed main= 287 km/h
never exceed speed alt= 155 knots, 178 mph
range main= 610 km
range alt= 329 nm, 378 mi
ceiling main=: 4,770 m
ceiling alt= 15,655 ft
climb rate main= 9.0 m/s
climb rate alt= 1,770 ft/min
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
avionics= Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD) with First Limit Indicator (FLI) fitted as standard.

References

External links

* [http://www.eurocopter.com/ec130/ Eurocopter's EC 130 page]
* [http://www.ecocopter.cl Ecocopter]
* [http://www.bluehawaiian.com Blue Hawaiian Helicopters]
* [http://www.maverickhelicopter.com Maverick Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours]
* [http://www.papillon.com Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters]

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Eurocopter Ecureuil
similar aircraft=
sequence=
lists=
see also=
* Eurocopter Group