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The Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) EC120 Colibri ((英語:hummingbird)) is a 5-seat, single-engine, single main rotor, light helicopter. Jointly designed and developed by Eurocopter, China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), Harbin Aviation Industries (Group) Ltd (HAIG) and Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd (STAero) at Eurocopter France's Marignane facility, the EC120 B is assembled by Eurocopter in France and Australia. In China, the aircraft is produced by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (HAMC) as the HC120.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=HC-120 (EC-120) Helicopter )〕 In 2004, HAMC began local manufacturing of the HC120 at their assembly line in Harbin, in northern China. In the Chinese market, both the People's Liberation Army and multiple local police forces have purchased HC120 helicopters.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=HC-120 Helicopters built in Harbin China )〕 ==Development== The EC120 Colibri has its origins in the P120, a proposal by French helicopter manufacturer Aérospatiale that was intended to replace both their Aérospatiale Gazelle and Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama single engine helicopters. During the 1980s, Aérospatiale sought international partners with which to co-produce the P120, these included aerospace companies in China, Singapore, and Australia.〔("Australia pulls out of Aerospatiale P120." ) ''Flight International'', 5 December 1989.〕〔("Aerospatiale to build light helicopters with China and Singapore. (P-120 helicopter)." ) ''Defense Daily'', 3 July 1991.〕 In the aftermath of the Chinese Government's crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, the exclusion of Chinese involvement in the project was speculated.〔("Aerospatiale venture faces China crisis." ) ''Flight International'', 8 July 1989.〕 On 20 October 1992, a contract for the joint development contract of the new helicopter was signed by the three principle partners of the project, the newly-formed Eurocopter, China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) and Singapore Aerospace Ltd (STAero).〔 Under the joint development agreement, Eurocopter received a 61% controlling interest and technical leader in the programme, CATIC received a 24% work share and STAero received a 15% work share; CATIC designed and produced the cabin structure and fuel system, STAero produced the tail boom, access doors, and composite materials, while Eurocopter produced the dynamic assemblies, installed the avionics, electrical and hydraulic systems, and conducted the final assembly activity.〔Grey, Peter. ("Light flier." ) ''Flight International'', 13 May 1998.〕 Development of the rotorcraft allowed Eurocopter to extend its range to include 1.5 metric-ton rotorcraft.〔 On 9 June 1995, the first prototype EC120 Colibri conducted its maiden flight.〔("History: From Eurocopter to Airbus Helicopters." ) ''Airbus Helicopters'', Retrieved: 29 November 2015.〕 By February 1996, the prototype had accumulated 60 flight hours, a second prototype joined the test program later that year.〔("EC120 testing reaches 60h." ) ''Flight International'', 14 February 1996.〕 In February 1997, the EC120 Colibri was formally launched at the Helicopter Association International (HAI) show in Anaheim, California;〔("Helicopters on the rise." ) ''Flight International'', 14 May 1997.〕 by June 1997, more than 50 orders had been received for the type.〔("Eurocopter wins Dauphin orders." ) ''Flight International'', 25 June 1997.〕 By October 1998, more than 100 orders had been received for the type, leading Eurocopter to increase the production rate from four helicopters per month to six.〔Moxon, Julian. ("'Growing demand' for Colibri prompts production increase." ) ''Flight International'', 21 October 1998.〕 In 2002, Eurocopter was in the process of establishing a second assembly line for the EC120 at Australian Aerospace's facility in Brisbane, Australia.〔("Australian Prime Minister Inspects Eurocopter Helicopters during his State Visit to Germany." ) ''Airbus Helicopters'', 04 July 2002.〕 In September 2003, Eurocopter and China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC II) expanded their partnership agreement to include a co-production arrangement with AVIC II-subsidiary Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG).〔Sobie, Brendan. ("Eurocopter expands Chinese deal with EC120." ) ''Flight International'', 23 September 2003.〕 On 11 June 2004, a final production agreement was signed; under the agreement, CATIA and HAIG received exclusive market rights in China, and Eurocopter agreed to stop selling French-built EC120s in mainland China.〔Sobie, Brendan. ("Chinese army ready to launch HC120 after production deal." ) ''Flight International'', 22 June 2014.〕 In June 2014, the People's Liberation Army of China became the launch customer for the Harbin-produced HC120, reportedly placing an order for 8 of the type with options for 50 more.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Eurocopter EC120 Colibri」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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