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).
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China; Dominican Republic; Germany; Hong Kong; South Korea (KAI LAH); Tanzania; Thailand; United Kingdom; United States; Vietnam
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Special-Mission: MEDical EVACuation (MEDEVAC)
Extraction of wounded combat or civilian elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and available internal volume or external carrying capability.
✓Special-Mission: Search & Rescue (SAR)
Ability to locate and extract personnel from areas of potential harm or peril (i.e. downed airmen in the sea).
✓Transport
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.
✓Commercial Aviation
Used in roles serving the commercial aviation market, ferrying both passengers and goods over range.
✓VIP Service
Used in the Very-Important-Person (VIP) passenger transport role, typically with above-average amenities and luxuries as standard.
Length
46.9 ft (14.30 m)
Width/Span
39.4 ft (12.00 m)
Height
14.3 ft (4.35 m)
Empty Wgt
7,716 lb (3,500 kg)
MTOW
10,847 lb (4,920 kg)
Wgt Diff
+3,131 lb (+1,420 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Airbus Helicopters H155B1 production variant)
monoplane / low-mounted / straight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Low-Mounted
Mainplanes are low-mounted along the sides of the fuselage.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the Airbus Helicopters H155B1 production variant)
Installed:
2 x Turbomeca Arriel 2C2 turboshaft engines developing 1,055 horsepower each while driving a five-blade main rotor and Fenestron-shrouded tail rotor.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Airbus Helicopters H155B1 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
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.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 2
Mounting Points
-
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
4
-
-
-
-
HARDPOINT(S) KEY:
X
15
13
11
9
7
5
3
1
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
COLOR KEY:
Fuselage Centerline
Fuselage Port/Wingroot
Fuselage Starboard/Wingroot
Wing/Underwing
Wingtip Mount(s)
Internal Bay(s)
Not Used
Note: Diagram above does not take into account inline hardpoints (mounting positions seated one-behind-the-other).
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.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
Images Gallery
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Image from official Airbus Helicopters marketing material.
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China; Dominican Republic; Germany; Hong Kong; South Korea (KAI LAH); Tanzania; Thailand; United Kingdom; United States; Vietnam
