Eurocopter Dauphin
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| Eurocopter Dauphin AS 365 N2 | ||
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| Description | ||
| Role: medium transport/utility helicopter | ||
| Crew + passengers: 1/2 + 13/12 | ||
| Dimensions | ||
| Length: 13.68 m (main rotor to tail rotor) | ||
| Fuselage length: 11.63 m | ||
| Height: 3.98 m | ||
| Rotor diameter: 11.94 m | ||
| Weights | ||
| Empty: 2,240 kg | ||
| Maximum take-off: 4,250 kg | ||
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines: 2 x Turbomeca Arriel 1C2 turboshafts | ||
| Power: 2 x 550 kW | ||
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed: 285 km/h | ||
| Combat range (internal fuel): 900 km | ||
| Ferry range (external fuel): | ||
| Service ceiling: 3,700 m | ||
| Maximum rate of climb: 6 m/s | ||
| Payload | ||
| Maximum payload: 1,900 kg | ||
| Maximum external payload on sling: 1,600 kg | ||
The Eurocopter Dauphin (Dolphin) is a medium-weight multipurpose twin-engine helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter (originally by Aérospatiale).
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.
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 Harbin Z-9 Haitung.
One of the distinctive features of the Dauphin is its fenestron tail rotor.
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History and 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.
(Regarding the naming of the different variants, it should be noted that, until January 1990, the AS 365 models were designated as SA 365.)
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.
SA 365 C
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 N1 (later designated the AS 365 N1).
AS 365 N1
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 365 N2
(This version is currently still in production.)
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 365 N3
(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.
EC 155 B1
(This version is currently still in production.)
This version was originally known as the AS 365 N4, and was announced at the 1997 Paris Airshow.
As with the N3 version, it has twin Arriel 2Cs turboshafts equipped with FADEC as well as a five blade Spheriflex main rotor and a 40% larger main cabin (achieved with bulged doors).
The first flight of the first prototype took place on 17 June 1997.
HH-65A Dolphin
The SA 366 G1 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-65 Dolphin. In total 99 helicopters, optimised for the USCG's search and rescue role tasks, were acquired.
Some engineering changes were required to comply with U.S regulations, the most drastic probably being substituting the Turboméca engines by Textron (Avco Lycoming) LTS 101 units, in order to comply with local content (in terms of value) regulations.
Military versions
For a more detailed discussion of the military versions of the Dauphin, see: Eurocopter Panther.
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.
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