PlaneSpottingWorld welcomes all new members! Please gives your ideas at the Terminal.
HH-65 Dolphin
| HH-65 Dolphin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| An HH-65 Dolphin of the United States Coast Guard | |
| Type | SAR helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Aérospatiale/Eurocopter |
| Status | Active |
| Primary user | United States Coast Guard |
| Number built | 99 |
| Developed from | Eurocopter Dauphin |
The HH-65 Dolphin is a twin-engined, single main rotor, MEDEVAC-capable, Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter operated by the United States Coast Guard (USCG). It is a variant of the French-built Eurocopter Dauphin.
Contents
Development
The SA 366 G1 Dauphin version was selected by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in the early 1980s as its new short range recovery (SRR) air-sea rescue helicopter and given the designation HH-65A Dolphin. In total 99 helicopters, optimised for the USCG's search and rescue role tasks, were acquired. In 2002 there were 94 Dolphins in use by the USCG. It replaced the Sikorsky HH-52A Sea Guard. The HH-65A is not able to perform water landings.[1]The HH-65 normally carries a crew of four: Pilot, Copilot, Flight Mechanic, and Rescue Swimmer.
The Dolphin was manufactured by Aerospatiale Helicopter Corporation in Grand Prairie, Texas. Textron Lycoming builds the LTS-101 750B-2 turboshaft engines in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and Rockwell International, Collins Avionics Group manufactures the electronics system in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.[1]
The HH-65 Dolphin is used for homeland security patrols, cargo, drug interdiction, ice breaking, military readiness, pollution control, and search and rescue missions. The HH-65 is known for its Fenestron tail rotor and its autopilot capabilities, which can complete an unaided approach to the water and bring the aircraft into a stable 50 ft hover, or automatically fly search patterns, an ability which allows the crew to engage in other tasks.
In order to comply with U.S. regulations relating to local content (based primarily on the value of individual components of the aircraft), engineering changes were required—notably, the original engines were replaced with Allied-Signal LTS-101-750B-2 power plants. Unfortunately, continued problems developed with this engine, resulting in several in-flight loss-of-power events. The USCG therefore decided that it would replace the Allied-Signal engines with Arriel 2C2 units by Turbomeca. This upgrade began in 2004, and has resulted in a safer and more capable aircraft. These modified HH-65As have been designated as HH-65Cs.
Design
The HH-65A minimum equipment requirements exceed anything previously packaged into one helicopter weighing in at less than 10,000 pounds. HH-65As are made of corrosion-resistant, composite-structure materials. Also a unique feature of the Dolphin is its computerized flight management system which integrates state-of-the-art communications and navigation equipment. This system provides automatic flight control. At the pilot's direction, the system will bring the aircraft to a stable hover 50 feet above a selected object. This is an important safety feature in darkness or inclement weather. Selected search patterns can be flown automatically, freeing the pilot and copilot to concentrate on sighting the search object.[1]
Operational history
The Dolphin is primarily a Short Range Recovery (SRR) aircraft. There are total of 96 Dolphins in the Coast Guard Fleet. The Dolphin replaced the HH-52A Sea Guard helicopter. The fleet has home ports in 17 cities on the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Hawaii, and the Great Lakes region.[1]
The Dolphin is usually deployed from shore but it can be deployed from medium and high endurance Coast Guard Cutters, as well as the Polar Icebreakers. The Dolphin's main jobs are: search and rescue, enforcement of laws and treaties (including drug interdiction), polar ice breaking, marine environmental protection including pollution control, and military readiness.
When deployed from an icebreaker, the helicopter acts as the ship's eyes, searching out thinner and more navigable ice channels. They also have the job of airlifting supplies to villages isolated by winter, or transporting scientists to conduct remote research.[1]
Variants
- HH-65A
- HH-65B
- HH-65C
- MH-65C
Operators
HH-65 Air Stations
- CGAS Traverse City, Michigan
- CGAS Barbers Point, Hawaii
- CGAS Borinquen, Puerto Rico
- CGAS Atlantic City, New Jersey
- CGAS Corpus Christi, Texas
- CGAS Detroit, Michigan
- CGAS Houston, Texas
- CGAS Humbolt Bay, California
- CGAS Los Angeles, California
- CGAS Miami, Florida
- CGAS/ATC Mobile, Alabama
- CGAS New Orleans, Louisiana
- CGAS North Bend, Oregon
- CGAS San Francisco, California[1]
- CGAS Port Angeles, Washington
- CGAS Savannah, Georgia
- CGAS Kodiak, Alaska
- HITRON Jacksonville, Florida
Specifications (HH-65C)
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.Data from United States Coast Guard[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 pilots and 2 crew
- Length: 44 ft 5 in (13.5 m)
- Rotor diameter: 39 ft 2 in (11.9 m)
- Height: 13 ft (3.9 m)
- Empty weight: 6,092 lb (2,800 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 9,480 lb (kg)
- Powerplant: 1× 2 x Turbomeca Arriel 2C2 turboshafts, 853 shp (636 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 135 mph (220 km/h)
- Range: 300 nm (555 km)
- Service ceiling: 7,510 ft (2,289 m)
- Disc loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
- Power/mass: hp/lb (kW/kg)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 HH-65A Dolphin, GlobalSecurity.org, accessed 1 October 2007
- ↑ United States Coast Guard: HH-65. Retrieved on 2006-05-13.
See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
See also
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
External links
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
| This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "HH-65 Dolphin". |
