Airbus Helicopters H125 Fennec (AS550)

1990 MODERN AIRCRAFT

• 1 History of Airbus Helicopters H125 Fennec (AS550)
• 2 Airbus Helicopters H125 Fennec (AS550) Specification
  • 2.1 Basic
  • 2.2 Production
  • 2.3 Roles
  • 2.4 Dimensions
  • 2.5 Weight
  • 2.6 Performance
  • 2.7 Performance
  • 2.8 Armor
  • 2.9 Changes

History of Airbus Helicopters H125 Fennec (AS550)

The AS550 "Fennec" (H125) is a related military helicopter development of the Eurocopter AS350 "Ecureuil" series. It is a lightweight, versatile, purpose-built supply platform designed to perform tasks such as reconnaissance, transport and attack missions (as well as supporting special forces) and is gaining popularity worldwide. Launched in 1990, Fennec developed into two different styles: the single-engine AS350 and AS550 series and the twin-engine AS355 and AS555 series.

The original production form was the single-engine AS350 L1/L2 "Ecureuil", which was launched in 1990.

Fennec was originally a product of Aerospatiale (AS) and later belonged to the Eurocopter name. It is now a product of Airbus Helicopters, known as the "H125" and so on.

Externally, the helicopter has a conventional design layout, with the engine mounted above the top of the cabin to power the overhead main rotor and tail rotor (the latter via a drive shaft that runs through the tail shaft). The engine is ejected through the tail unit.

The tail is finished with a vertical plane at its rearmost end and a horizontal plane along the center span of the tail. There are side-by-side seats for two crew members in the front, while the cabin can accommodate up to four passengers. The glass at the front of the plane is fine to ensure excellent visibility from the cockpit. Every pilot has a car-style door.

The passenger area also features gullwing door units, although these are larger. The chin area can support optics. The landing gear features a simple four-point skid-mounted arrangement, reducing maintenance time and initial cost.

Other single engine versions are the armed AS550 C2, the unarmed AS550 U2 and the armed AS550 C3. AS550 C3e is now Airbus Helicopter "H125M".

The AS550 CS has a crew of two with four seats. It has an overall length of 42.5 feet, a width of 35 feet (including the main rotor) and a height of 10.9 feet. Curb weight is listed at 2,700 lbs and maximum takeoff weight is 5,000 lbs.

Power comes from an 847-horsepower Turbomeca Arriel 2B turboshaft engine that drives a three-blade main rotor above the fuselage and a two-blade tail rotor at the stern (offset to starboard). Performance includes a top speed of 155 mph, a range of up to 405 miles, a service ceiling of up to 17,320 feet, and a climb rate of 2,030 feet per minute.

Twin engine variants include original AS355 M/M2 Ecureuil 2, armed AS555 AF, AS555 AN with 20mm gun, AS555 AR with gun and missiles, unarmed Navy Ghost AS555 MN, Navy AS555 MR, armed Navy variant AS555 SN and AS555 SR, Training and Utility AS555 UN, Utility AS555 UR and Navy AS555 SP.

The armed version can carry the GIAT M621 series 20mm automatic cannon, as well as a 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun cannon. Seven- or twelve-round 70mm rocket pods are also available. Some attack forms also have BGM-71 TOW series anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) weapons installed.

Operators of the Fennec family of helicopters include the Argentine Army, the Brazilian Army, the Colombian Navy, the Royal Danish Air Force, the Ecuadorian Army, the French Army and the French Navy, the Indonesian Army, the Royal Malaysian Army, the Mexican Navy, the Pakistan Army and the Royal Thai Army. The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the former operator.

May 2018 - Ukraine signed a contract for a batch of Airbus H125 helicopters.

Airbus Helicopters H125 Fennec (AS550) Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes