Eurocopter Dauphin

Eurocopter AS 360 Dauphin
An AS 365 N-1 of the Swiss Air Force
Type:	Transport helicopter
Design country:	France
Manufacturer:	Airbus Helicopters
First flight:	June 2nd 1972
Commissioning:	1975
Number of pieces:	1000 (as of April 2011)

The Eurocopter SA 360 Dauphin ( French for dolphin) is a light multi-purpose helicopter from Aérospatiale , later Eurocopter and since 2014 from Airbus Helicopters . There are several versions with one or two engines. What they all have in common is the Fenestron rear rotor. While the first variants were equipped with a rigid landing gear, a retractable landing gear is used in the further developments. The first prototype flew on June 2, 1972. The model produced today is the AS 365 N3. The current model developed from the AS 365, the EC 155 , is offered in parallel to this. In China, the model was manufactured under license as the Z-9.

The Dauphin is used around the world for rescue, police and transport tasks, as well as for passenger transport.

variants

The machine was initially presented as a single-engine variant SA 360 and later developed into the twin-engine variant produced today. It was created as the successor to the Alouette III .

SA 360

An SA 365 C2 from the Lower Saxony police

The prototype was equipped with a 730 kW Turbomeca Astazou  XVI engine and a four-blade main rotor . 180 flights were initially carried out with this configuration. There were vibrations in the rotor system. The use of anti-flutter masses in the rotor tips reduced this effect. A 785 kW variant (XVIIIA) of the Astazou was used for further tests. The first flight of the modified machine took place on May 4th 1973. The first production machine, an SA 360 C, flew for the first time in April 1975. By 1981 a total of about 40 machines had been manufactured.

SA 361

A few copies of the SA 361 were produced and flew for the first time on June 12, 1976. It had the same four-blade main rotor as the SA 360, but had a more powerful engine (Astazou XX with 749 kW), better flight performance and a higher one Payload. A military variant for the use of eight HOT missiles (SA 361 HCL) was also developed and presented in May 1978 with a 1043 kW Astazou XXB. However, there was no series production.

SA 365 C

The SA 365 C Dauphin 2 is a twin-engine version that has been developed since 1973. The main reason for the twin-engine design is the higher level of operational reliability. The first flight took place on January 24, 1975. The machine was equipped with Turboméca Arriel shaft turbines with an output of 505 kW, for which the engine cowlings had to be changed. The four-blade main rotor system was also replaced. The first series machines were delivered from December 1978. Around 50 machines of this type had been manufactured by the end of production in 1981.

AS 365 N (until 1990: SA 365)

SA 365 N - intensive care transport helicopter Christoph Hessen

As the first variant with nose wheel retractable landing gear, larger tail surfaces, a modified gearbox, further improved four-blade main rotor with mast cladding and optimized engine cladding, the 365 N represents a significant further development. The Turboméca Arriel 1C with 447 kW was used as the engine. The first flight took place on March 31, 1979. This variant replaced the previous types SA 360 and SA 365C from 1982 and was produced until 1990.

AS 365 N2

The slightly improved variant N2 received detailed improvements to the cabin doors, the gearbox and the interior as well as more powerful Arriel 1C2 engines with 569 kW. The cockpit received an electronic flight instrument system . The first machines of this type were delivered in 1990; production is still ongoing (2005).

AS 365 N3

Further improved variant of the AS 365 with FADEC and two Arriel 2C engines of 729 kW each. The delivery of this variant began in December 1998. Production continues.

AS 365 N3 +

The AS 365 N3 has been replaced by the AS365 N3 + since the end of 2013 , which has 15% more power. The maximum take-off weight has increased to 4.5 tons. The new version received the main gear of the EC 155, a new Starflex main rotor head and a reinforced main rotor mast.

SA 366 G1 / HH-65 Dolphin

Aerospatiale HH-65

The SA 366 G is a variant for the US Coast Guard . The name for the machines there was HH-65A Dolphin. With the exception of the Textron LTS 101 engines with 551 kW power and some other detailed changes (to meet US requirements), they correspond to the SA 365 N. A total of 99 machines of this type were delivered. The US Coast Guard placed the order in 2004 to equip the helicopter with a new engine. The Arriel 2C2 CG engine was selected for this (CG stands for Coast Guard ). After this performance-enhancing modernization, which comprised a total of 95 pieces, the name of the helicopter was changed to HH-65C.

EC 155 B / B1

→ Main article : Eurocopter EC 155

The original designation of the EC 155 B was AS 365 N4 (Arriel 2C1). However, due to the completely new five-blade main rotor with unlimited service life and the significantly larger cabin due to the modified doors, a new series designation was used. The machine was flown for the first time on June 17, 1997 and was presented to the public at the Paris Air Show that same year. The EC 155 B1 model has two Arriel 2C2 engines with 636 kW continuous output, i.e. 12% increase in output.

Harbin Z-9 / WZ-9

Chinese military variant Z-9

The Harbin Z-9 Haitung (Delfin) is a licensed variant that is manufactured in China. For this purpose, in 1980 Aerospatiale and the Chinese government agreed to deliver 28 Dauphin 365N and 20 Dauphin 365N2 in the form of kits, which were then finally assembled in the Harbiner Flugzeugfabrik (HAMC) after delivery by January 1982. The N versions were referred to as Z-9 and the N2 as Z-9A, with Chinese components also being used in the latter. The first Z-9 assembled in China took off on its maiden flight on February 6, 1982. The first marine version Z-9C, intended as an on- board helicopter and for fighting submarines, followed on December 3, 1987. This was later modernized several times and equipped with an X-band radar from the end of the 1990s, which can be recognized by an elongated nose is. Six of these machines were also sold to Pakistan as Z-9ECs in 2006 and delivered to Pakistan's F-22P frigates from September 2009. From 1988 the Z-9A were modernized with French help and the two prototypes were equipped with 550 kW Wozhou WZ-8A (licensed by Turbomeca Arriel 1C2). The machines were designated as Z-9A-100, but never mass-produced, as relations with the West deteriorated in 1989. HAMC thereupon continued the development as the Z-9B alone and on January 16, 1992 brought the first machine consisting of 70% Chinese components and only recognizable on the tail propeller with 11 plastic fiber instead of 13 metal blades for its maiden flight. Initially five, later seven, of this type were built per year, and in 1993 a further 22 AS 365N2 kits were ordered in France. The machines, which were actually developed exclusively for civilian use, were gradually converted into military machines. For this purpose, they were equipped with a corresponding color scheme and carrier systems for missiles and cannons. The WZ-9 (also Z-9G and later Z-9W), which took off for its first flight around 1995, is an armed version that can be used for anti-tank defense. For this purpose, it was equipped with two wire-guided HJ-8s (simplified replicas of the TOW). At least 15 machines of this type were produced. From 2001 flight tests began with the civilian version H-410A (a version of the AS 565) with a take-off mass of 4100 kg and a 635 kW Arriel 2C engine, which was produced in series from 2005. From 2008 the 0.2 m longer H-425 (military designation Z-9WA) was presented. The military version, manufactured in two different equipment versions, has a spherical electro-optical vision system from the Chinese company EOTDC under the nose and two weapon carriers for four laser-guided HJ-9 anti-tank guided missiles. In 2009 four machines of this type were sold to Kenya. On July 27, 2016, the AVIC group reported the first flight of the "Avicopter AC312A" type.

Helibras MH-1

The Helibras MH-1 is a licensed variant that is manufactured by Helibras in Brazil .

Military versions

Aerospatiale SA 365 F

SA 365 of the French Navy

Although the civil version of the Dauphin is also used by various armed forces, special military versions also exist.

SA 365 F

The SA 365F is a variant of the SA 365 N for the French Navy . It has been used for general duties and security purposes on board an aircraft carrier since 1991. A helicopter with rescue divers is always in the air during flight operations so that the pilots can be assisted immediately in the event of an accident. The first tests were successfully carried out on board the Clemenceau in 1990 . The 365F variant has been used exclusively in the Flotilla 35F since 1999 .

AS 565 Panther

The AS 565 variant is the military variant of the AS 365 N. The following versions have been developed:

• AS 565 AA / AB: a variant as an attack helicopter. Not produced.
• AS 565 CA: Version for anti-tank defense.
• AS 565 MA / MB: Marine version of the UA / UB version. The UB variant is currently (11/2005) in production. In addition to typical SAR tasks, the operational objectives are ship combat. In addition, the radar system has been improved so that it now has a viewing angle of 240 ° or 360 °. The rotor blades and the rudder unit can be folded up. Special corrosion protection and a motor flushing system are used so that salt water has no influence on the service life of the cell and drives. The tank system has been modified so that pressure refueling and rapid drainage are possible. The nose wheel can be fixed. Stabilization cells inflate when ditching. A harpoon is located under the hull for easy landing on heavily swaying ships. There are also additional tabs on the cell so that it can be securely attached.
• AS 565 SA / SB: anti-submarine variant, not in production and partly replaced by variant MB.
• AS 565 UA / UB: support versions. The machines are equipped with two Turboméca Arriel 2C engines with 625 kW each. The purpose is the transport of eight to ten soldiers, the transport of four wounded and a doctor and light transport tasks. A winch with a maximum load of 272 kg and a rope length of 90 m can be installed for rescue purposes. The UB variant is currently (11/2005) in production.

Further development

Parts of this section seem since 2013 is out of date to be .
Please help to research and insert the missing information .

The next version of the Panther will be the AS565 MBe, which will be introduced from the end of 2013. Like the then also newest civil version AS565 N3e, it will have 15% more power and an increased maximum take-off weight of 4.5 t.

Military user states

 Brazil

Brazilian Army : 36 HM-1 Manobra (AS.565AA Panther), manufactured under license by Helibras

 Bulgaria

Bulgarian Navy : 3 AS.565MB Panthers

 People's Republic of China

Navy of the People's Republic of China : 10 Harbin Z-9, board helicopter

 France

Aéronavale : 10 SA.365F, on-board helicopter

 Greece

Greek Coast Guard: 6 AS.565N3 “Aegean Dolphin”, on-board helicopter for frigates

 Israel

Israel Air and Space Force : 5 AS.565MA "Atalef", board helicopters on ships of the Sa'ar-5 class of the Israeli Navy

 Cameroon

The Armée de l'Air du Cameroun : 1 Harbin Z 9

 Colombia

Colombian Navy : 4 AS.565N3, on-board helicopters for Almirante Padilla-class frigates and 20-de-Julio-class ocean patrol boats

 Lithuania

Lithuanian Air Force : 3 AS.565N3 for SAR duties

 Morocco

Royal Navy : 3 AS.565MB Panthers, on-board helicopters for frigates

 Mexico

Armada de México: 15 AS.565 Panther (5 AS.365MB, 10 AS.365MBe)

 Pakistan

Pakistani Navy: 6 Harbin Z-9, on-board helicopters

 Switzerland

Swiss Air Force : 1 AS.365 Dauphin, was operated as a VIP helicopter (now out of service).

 United States

US Coast Guard

 United Kingdom

Army Air Corps : 5 , AS.365N3 Dauphin II in the service of the eighth flight of the 22nd Regiment , the British special forces SAS operated

Technical specifications

Outline drawing of the AS 365 Dauphin

Parameter	Data AS 365 N-2 Dauphin
Crew + passengers	1/2 + 13/12
Length over all	13.68 m
Hull length	11.63 m
height	3.98 m
Rotor diameter	11.94 m
Empty weight	2,240 kg
Maximum takeoff weight	4,250 kg
drive	two Turboméca Arriel 1C2 shaft turbines of 550 kW each
Top speed	285 km / h
Range	900 km
Service ceiling	3,700 m
Maximum rate of climb	6 m / s

Armament

Air-to-air guided missiles

• 2 × double guided missile launchers for 2 × heat- image-controlled short-range air-to-air missiles MBDA Mistral (AATCP)

Air-to-ground guided missiles

• 8 × wire-guided anti-tank guided missiles HOT (AS.565CA only)
• 4 × wire-guided submarine missile Euromissile AS.15TT
• 2 × DTCN torpedo L4
• 4 × laser-guided anti-tank guided missiles Norinco Hong Jian-9 (HJ-9) (only Z-9)

Unguided air-to-surface missiles

• 2 × TBA 68-12 rocket tube launch containers for 12 × unguided SNEB air-to-ground missiles each ; Caliber 68 mm
• 2 × Matra Type 156 rocket launch containers for 19 × unguided air-to-surface missiles SNEB ; Caliber 68 mm

External container

• 2 × GIAT M621 automatic cannon container (POD NC 621 in 20 mm caliber) with 180 rounds of ammunition

See also

• List of helicopter types

Web links

Commons : Dauphin  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Type certification of the DAUPHIN - EASA-TCDS-R.105 (PDF; 468 kB)
• Description of the SA 365 as a rescue helicopter at RTH.info

Individual evidence

1. ↑ AS365 N3 +. Airbus Helicopters , accessed January 8, 2017 . 
2. ↑ press release . in: eads.com from October 20, 2004.
3. ↑ Safran Group.com Manufacturer information ( Memento of the original from June 10, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (English) 
4. ↑ Aviation Review . June 2010, pp. 30–33, The many faces of the Z-9
5. ↑ AVIC HAIG's AC312E takes to the skies press release July 27, 2016
6. ^ Colombian Navy reinforces helicopter fleet, Janes, October 31, 2018
7. ↑ Mexico receives final Panther helo, Janes, December 6, 2017