H155 / EC155 Dauphin 2

The Airbus Helicopters H155, originally designated Eurocopter EC155, is a twin-engined medium-lift transport helicopter developed in France from the Dauphin family for civil operations. It carries up to 13 passengers with one or two crew and is used for passenger transport, offshore support, VIP transport and casualty evacuation. Deliveries began in March 1999. The type was renamed H155 in 2015 following Eurocopter's rebranding as Airbus Helicopters, and was succeeded in the product line by the H160.

Development

Initially designated AS365 N4, the aircraft was derived from the AS365 N3 Dauphin 2 with the objective of enlarging the cabin. Development began in September 1996 and the programme was announced at the Paris Air Show in June 1997. The first EC155, a modified Dauphin airframe, flew at Marignane on 17 June 1997, followed by the first pre-production EC155 B on 11 March 1998. French and German civil certification was granted on 11 December 1998. Roughly 50 aircraft were sold between March 1999 and June 2003. The uprated EC155 B1 entered delivery in November 2002. In early 2003 Eurocopter studied a more powerful version to compete with the AgustaWestland AW139 and address military requirements. In 2015 Airbus Helicopters and Korea Aerospace Industries agreed to transfer principal manufacturing to South Korea, with KAI becoming sole manufacturer after 2018; the type forms the basis of KAI's Light Civil Helicopter and Light Armed Helicopter, with new cockpit, gearbox and rotor blades. Airbus projected South Korean demand of 100 LCH and 214 LAH airframes.

Design

The EC155 B has a redesigned cabin offering 30% more passenger space and 130% more baggage volume than earlier Dauphin models. It uses a five-blade Spheriflex composite main rotor with a shrouded Fenestron tail rotor. The EC155 B is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2C1 turboshafts of 635 kW (851 shp) with dual-channel FADEC; the B1 uses 697 kW (935 shp) Arriel 2C2 engines and has a maximum take-off weight of 4,920 kg. An anti-icing system is optional. The glass cockpit uses the Avionique Nouvelle integrated digital flight control system with the Vehicle and Engine Management Display, a four-axis digital autopilot coupled to the engine FADECs, and an optional Health and Usage Monitoring System. Range is 857 km, service ceiling 4,572 m and never-exceed speed 324 km/h. Five configurations exist: passenger transport, VIP/corporate, casualty transport, offshore, and police/parapublic.

Operational History

The German Bundespolizei was the first operator in March 1999; the Hong Kong Government Flying Service was first to receive the EC155 B1 in November 2002. Other operators include the Dominican Republic Air Force, NRW Police, the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau, the Royal Thai Police, Air Greenland, Vietnam Helicopter Corporation, and US air medical services. The rotor system was adapted for the Eurocopter X3 compound helicopter, which reached 255 knots in 2013, and an EC155 served as a testbed for H160 aerodynamic features in 2015.

Variants

• EC155: First prototype, converted from an existing Dauphin airframe.
• EC155 B: First production version with two Turbomeca Arriel 2C1 engines.
• EC155 B1: Uprated model with Arriel 2C2 engines, higher MTOW and improved hot-and-high performance.
• AS565 UC: Designation of an early military derivative study.
• LCH/LAH: Korea Aerospace Industries developments; the LAH carries a chin-mounted 20 mm cannon, side-mounted guided rockets and countermeasures, and carries 6–10 troops.