Airbus Helicopters H155 (EC155)

Medium-Lift, Multi-role Twin-Engine Helicopter

France | 1999

"Developed from the Eurocopter Dauphin, the Airbus Helicopters H155 features more internal space."

Image from official Airbus Helicopters marketing material.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Airbus Helicopters H155B1 Medium-Lift, Multi-role Twin-Engine Helicopter.

2 x Turbomeca Arriel 2C2 turboshaft engines developing 1,055 horsepower each while driving a five-blade main rotor and Fenestron-shrouded tail rotor.
Propulsion

174 mph
280 kph | 151 kts
Max Speed

15,000 ft
4,572 m | 3 miles
Service Ceiling

562 miles
905 km | 489 nm
Operational Range

1,750 ft/min
533 m/min
Rate-of-Climb

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Airbus Helicopters H155B1 Medium-Lift, Multi-role Twin-Engine Helicopter.

2
(MANNED)
Crew

46.9 ft
14.30 m
O/A Length

39.4 ft
(12.00 m)
O/A Width

14.3 ft
(4.35 m)
O/A Height

7,716 lb
(3,500 kg)
Empty Weight

10,847 lb
(4,920 kg)
MTOW

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Airbus Helicopters H155 (EC155) Medium-Lift, Multi-role Twin-Engine Helicopter provided across 2 hardpoints.

Usually none though plans for a light-armed gunship model has been unveiled showcasing a powered chin turret with gun armament and wingstubs carrying rocket pods or gun pods.

X

Hardpoints Key:

Centerline

Wingroot(L)

Wingroot(R)

Wing

Wingtip

Internal

Not Used

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Airbus Helicopters H155 (EC155) family line.

EC155 - Original designation by Eurocopter; covering prototypes developed from the Eurocopter Dauphin series.

EC155B - Initial production form; fitted with 2 x Turbomeca Arriel 2C1 turboshaft engines.

EC155B1 - Improved "Hot-and-High" performance model; Turbomeca Arriel 2C2 engines.

AS565UC - Design study for potential militarized model

H155 - Airbus Helicopters redesignation of EC155; based on EC155B1 model.

KAI LCH/LAH - Armed military model with outboard wingstubs holding missile and cannon weaponry; nose-mounted automatic cannon.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 07/19/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Airbus Helicopters H155 series five-ton helicopter was born under the Aerospatiale designation of "AS365" and its general design emerged from the successful military-minded AS365 "Dauphin" then-produced by Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters). Work on the civilian market-minded form began in 1996 and a prototype first-flew on June 17th, 1997. A production-quality model went airborne the following year and, after being granted certification, deliveries of the H155 commenced in early-to-mid 1998 with official service introduction reached in 1999.

The product first appeared under the Eurocopter brand label as the "EC155". The helicopter is now known under the "H155" designator by Airbus Helicopters.

First-production quality models arrived in the EC155B variant and these were powered by 2 x Turbomeca "Arriel" 2C1 series turboshaft engines. Then followed the EC155B1 which incorporated more powerful engines in the Arriel 2C2 turboshaft series of 935 horsepower output, improving performance, particularly in "Hot & High" environments. There was an increase to Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) as well which furthered broadened the value of the helicopter.

At its core, the EC155 has been given a well-streamlined fuselage, consistent with other Eurocopter designs, sporting a heavily-glazed frontal section offering excellent vision out-of-the-cockpit. The airframe tapers rearward to form the tail stem housing the drive shaft for powering the tail rotor unit. The tail rotor is set within a Fenestron shroud, the shroud integrated into the tail fin itself. Horizontal planes are set about the tail sides of the tail and each plane features small vertical fins. Over the roof of the passenger cabin (and atop the dual engine layout) is a five-bladed composite main rotor. Access to the front seats of the aircraft is by way of hinged, automobile-style doors for the pilot and one passenger. Sliding doors service the passenger cabin space. The undercarriage is wheeled and wholly-retractable to help preserve aerodynamic efficiency in flight.

By design, the H155 is made for various civil aviation-minded industries including VIP / corporate passenger ferrying, oil rig support, MEDEVAC (emergency medical services), Search & Rescue (SAR) and general security / law enforcement.

Performance for the B1 includes a maximum speed of 200 miles per hour, a range out to 615 miles (ferry) and a service ceiling up to 15,000 feet. Rate-of-climb is 1,750 feet per minute.

To date (2017) the H155 is being operated by China (police), Germany (police), Hong Kong (government), Thailand (police), the United Kingdom (Bristow Helicopters) and the United States (civil).

The H155 formed the basis for the experimental Eurocopter "X3" product (since completed) detailed elsewhere on this site.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Airbus Helicopters H155 (EC155). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 100 Units
Contractor(s): Airbus Helicopters / Eurocopter - France

[ China; Dominican Republic; Germany; Hong Kong; South Korea (KAI LAH); Tanzania; Thailand; United Kingdom; United States; Vietnam ]

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Image of the Airbus Helicopters H155 (EC155)

Image from official Airbus Helicopters marketing material.

Going Further...
The Airbus Helicopters H155 (EC155) Medium-Lift, Multi-role Twin-Engine Helicopter appears in the following collections:

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