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Airbus Helicopters HH-65 Dolphin

2002

History of the Airbus Helicopters HH-65 Dolphin

The HH-65 Dolphin replaced the Sikorsky HH-52A Sea Guard at the time serving with the United States Coast Guard (USCG). Based on the French-built Eurocopter Dauphin (AS 365N) and sharing the same naming convention (albeit translated), the HH-65 is primarily used as a dedicated rescue helicopter, which is officially classified as a Short Range Rescue (SRR). Although the HH-65 Dolphin originated from Aerospatiale/Eurocopter system made in France, but it is made in the USA by Eurocopter, Textron Lycoming (turboshaft engine) and Rockwell Collins (electronics). The first flight took place in 1980 and the system was fully introduced in 1985.

It remains on active duty at the USCG with a total of 102 dolphins making up the Coast Guard's HH-65 unit.

In terms of design, the HH-65 shares many of the same characteristics with its French sister Eurocopter Dove. Her design features a low-slung front cockpit, which features a smaller, pointed nose and a shrouded fenestron tail. The landing gear is fully retractable and consists of two single-wheel main landing gear and a twin-wheel nose landing gear.

The engine is mounted roughly in the middle of the design, flush with and above the cab. The fuselage merges seamlessly into a beautifully contoured rear wing, matched with a single vertical tail fin (above the fenestron cover) and a horizontally positioned rear wing.

Four major versions of the HH-65 have since appeared. The first production model entered service in 1985 as the HH-65A and featured two LTS101-750B-2 series turboshaft engines, each rated at 735 shaft horsepower. In 2001, an upgraded HH-65B model followed with an improved avionics suite, two integrated GPS systems, and two cockpit-mounted multifunction flat-panel displays.

So far, if there's a downside to the Dolphin system, it's their Lycoming-branded engine, which has forced the USCG to explore other available engine options.

The HH-65C was basically an A and B production model with two French-built Turbomeca Arriel 2C2-CG turboshaft engines, each 934 shp. These engines have been proven in Eurocopter's EC155 series, and they are an improvement in efficiency and reliability over the original US-built Lycoming (now Honeywell) LTS101-750B-2 turboshaft.

Other changes to this model are a new gearbox and tail for the main rotor, an 11-blade Fenestron tail rotor, increased MTOW (maximum take-off weight) and a lengthened nose for new equipment. The first converted C models hit the market in late 2004.

The Type A and B Dolphins were retrofitted with the new Turbomeca Arriel 2C2-CG turboshaft and were made to Type C standards and received the HH-65C designation.

The MH-65C is a derivative of the HH-61C with improved transmission, digital autopilot, improved avionics, increased fuel capacity, increased MTOW and a new 10-blade tail rotor with noise reduction. The MH-65C is used by the U.S.

Coast Guard Helicopter Intercept Tactical Squadron (HITRON) "Force From Above" gunship. Based in Jacksonville and in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, the dolphins are armed aircraft tasked with conducting "use of air force" operations in areas with high drug trafficking rates and responding to general security threats in U.S. waters. To complement this newly discovered role, the MH-65C used by HITRON employs a 7.62mm M240B general purpose machine gun and a 12.7mm Barrett M107CQ antimatter cannon.

HITRON Dolphins have also been used to guide their fellow Over The Horizon Cutter Boats (OTHCB) to specific crime scenes for interception and/or arrest. The MH-65C "HITRON" Dolphin entered service in 2008.

Other Dolphin mission parameters include icebreaker cooperation, environmental management, and special passenger transport.

Currently, the US Coast Guard is the sole operator of the HH-65 Dolphin family. HH-65 is located in Alabama, New Jersey, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, California, Alaska, Louisiana, Oregon, Washington, Georgia, Michigan, and Florida, covering these about 17 cities in the state. The HH-65 Dolphin is one of the few American combat helicopters to use the French-designed Fenestron ducted tail rotor. This shrouded tail rotor has been shown to provide better stability in crosswinds and consume less power when hovering.

On the other hand, Fenestron tail rotors have proven to be more expensive and heavier than traditional open mounts, while consuming more fuel.

The HH-65 is sometimes given the nickname "Tupperwolf" or "Plastic Puppy" due to the extensive use of composite materials throughout the manufacturing process.