Eurocopter Dauphin

Eurocopter Dauphin
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Dauphin rescue helicopter on the deck of the FS Charles de Gaulle carrier (5th of June 2004)
Type	transport/utility helicopter
Manufacturer	Aérospatiale/Eurocopter
Primary users	France United States Coast Guard
Variants	HH-65 Dolphin Eurocopter Panther

The Eurocopter Dauphin (Dolphin) is a medium-weight multipurpose twin-engine helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter (originally by Aérospatiale).

Overview

Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin 2 rescue helicopter I-TNBB on Italian skiing area

The Dauphin is one of Eurocopter's most successful designs and is widely used as a corporate transport, police, news media, emergency medical services and search & rescue helicopter. One of the distinctive features of the Dauphin is its fenestron tail rotor.

The military version of the Dauphin is the Eurocopter Panther. The Dauphin is also used by the United States Coast Guard under the designation HH-65 Dolphin.

The Dauphin is also manufactured in China under licence as the Z-9 by the Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation, and subsequently developed as the armed versions WZ-9 and WZ-9A-100.

Variants

Regarding the naming of the different variants, it should be noted that, until January 1990, the AS 365 models were designated as SA 365.

Single-engined Variants

The single engine SA 360 Dauphin and the twin engine SA 365C Dauphin 2 were developed by Aérospatiale as a replacement for its Alouette III.

• SA 360

The first prototype SA 360 A first flew on 2 June 1972 and was fitted with a 730 kW Turboméca Astazou XVI turboshaft. After 180 development flights, the engine was changed to a more powerful 785 kW Astazou XVIIIA. In order reduce vibration and to eliminate ground resonance, weights were also fitted to the rotor tips.

The first production aircraft—designated the SA 360 C—first flew in April 1975.

• SA 361

This version of the SA 360 was developed for so-called "hot and high" circumstances and was a more powerful variant with improved performance and a greater payload capability. The SA 361 was never series-produced, although some prototypes were built.

Prototypes of a military variant of the SA 361, the SA 361 H (equipped with up to eight HOT anti-tank missiles) were also built, but the type was likewise never series-produced.

Twin-engined Civil Variants

• SA 365C

This twin-engined version of the Dauphin, designated as the Dauphin 2, was announced in early 1973. The first flight of the first prototype took place on 24 January 1975, with production model deliveries starting in December 1978.

In comparison with the earlier model, the SA 365 C features twin Arriel turboshafts with a new engine fairing, a Starflex main rotor hub and a higher maximum takeoff weight.

Production of both the SA 360 and SA 365 C ceased in 1981, by which time approximately 40 SA 360s and 50 SA 365 Cs had been built. Both types were replaced by the SA 365 N (later updated to the AS 365 N1, with an uprated powerplant and composite fenestron).

• AS 365N

Dauphin SA365N SP (Public Service) of the detachement in Hyères of the 32F wing of the French Navy

This is a much improved version of the SA 365C Dauphin 2, the first prototype flying on 31 March 1979. Deliveries of the production model began in 1982.

This version introduced the more powerful Arriel 1C turboshafts, enlarged tail surfaces, revised transmission, main rotor, rotor mast fairing and engine cowling as well as a retractable tricycle undercarriage.

• AS 365N1/N2

This version introduced the upgraded Arriel 1C2 turboshafts, an improved gearbox, increased maximum take-off weight, redesigned cabin doors and a revised interior.

Deliveries of this version started in 1990.

• AS 365N3

(This version is currently still in production.)

This version was developed for so-called "hot and high" circumstances and has Arriel 2C turboshafts equipped with fully automated digital electronic control (FADEC). Production deliveries began in December 1998.

In Australia, the Victoria Police Air Wing operates a number of Dauphin AS 365 N3's as well as SA 365C's.

• AS 365N4

Produced as the EC155

• EC 155B1

(This version is currently in production.)

This version was originally to follow the N3 as the AS 365 N4, and was announced at the 1997 Paris Airshow before being redesignated as the EC 155 B

As with the N3 version, it has twin Arriel 2Cs turboshafts equipped with FADEC as well as a five blade Spheriflex main rotor (Using the rotorhead from the Dauphin Grand Vittesse A.K.A The high speed Dauphin), It also had a 40% larger main cabin (achieved with bulged doors and cabin plugs).

The first flight of the first prototype took place on 17 June 1997.

US Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin

• HH-65A Dolphin

The SA 366G1 Dauphin version was selected by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in the early 1980s as its new 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.

Military versions

For a more detailed discussion of the military versions of the Dauphin, see: Eurocopter Panther.

• AS 365 F: Naval version.
• AS 365 F1: Naval version.
• AS 365 K: Military version of the twin engine AS.365N2.
• AS 365 M: Military version of the twin engine AS.365N2.

Military AS 365 Ns are designated as AS 565 Panthers and are available in the following versions:

• AS 565 UA/UB: utility versions.
• AS 565 AA/AB: attack versions.
• AS 565 MA/MB: naval search & rescue versions.
• AS 565 SA/SB: ASW (Anti Submarine Warfare) versions.

Production figures

More than 650 AS 365/366/565 versions have been produced or ordered, with the 500th Dauphin (counting all models) having been delivered in 1991. More than 20 EC 155s have been ordered.

Operators

Military Operators

• Argentina (Coast Guard), Burkina Faso, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile (Coast Guard, Navy, SAR), China, Congo, Dominican Republic, Fiji, France, Greece (Coast Guard), India, Israel, Ivory Coast, Ireland, Malawi, Mexico, Morocco, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia (on order), Sri Lanka, South Africa, United States (United States Coast Guard) ,United Kingdom ,Uruguay.

Non-Military Operators

• Hong Kong (Government Flying Service)
• Iceland (Coast Guard)
• Victoria Police use it as a patrol helicopter as well as for search and rescue missions.
• Maryland State Police use it primarily as a search and rescue helicopter, though other law enforcement duties can be assigned to it.
• North Sea Helicopters Vlaanderen (NHV) based at ostend, primary role is shipping control, organ transport and various essential transport work, NHV is based at Ostend Intl airport, Belgium.

• Indonesia Police

Specifications (Eurocopter Dauphin)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 or 2 pilots
• Capacity: 4-12 passengers
• Length: ft in (13.73 m)
• Rotor diameter: ft in (11.94 m)
• Height: ft in (4.05 m)
• Disc area: ft² (m²)
• Empty weight: lb (2,389 kg)
• Loaded weight: lb (kg)
• Max takeoff weight: lb (4,300 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Turbomeca Arriel 2C turboshafts , hp (597 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: mph (knots, 306 km/h)
• Combat radius: mi (nm, km)
• Ferry range: mi (nm, 827 km)
• Service ceiling: ft (5,865 m)
• Rate of climb: ft/min (8.9 m/s)
• Disc loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
• Power/mass: hp/lb (W/kg)

External links

• Eurocopter
• Chinese Z-9

Related content

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Eurocopter Dauphin

Related development

• HH-65 Dolphin
• Eurocopter Panther

Comparable aircraft

• Kamov Ka-60
• Agusta A109
• Bell 222/230/430
• Sikorsky S-76

Related lists

• List of helicopters