|
The Airbus Helicopters H225 Super Puma, formerly known as the Eurocopter EC225, is a long-range passenger transport helicopter developed by Eurocopter as the next generation of the civilian Super Puma family. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up to 24 passengers along with 2 crew and a cabin attendant, dependent on customer configuration. The helicopter is marketed for offshore support and VIP passenger transport duties, as well as public service missions. In 2015, the EC225 was formally renamed to the H225, in line with Eurocopter's corporate rebranding as Airbus Helicopters.〔("VIDEO: Meet the H Generation." ) ''Airbus Helicopters'', 3 March 2015.〕 ==Development== In the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis, oil & gas companies began exploration and extraction activities further offshore, thus creating a long term need for more capable rotary aircraft.〔Kay, Marcia Hillary. "(40 Years Retrospective: It's Been a Wild Ride )" ''Rotor & Wing'', August 2007. Accessed: 8 June 2014. (Archived ) on 8 June 2014.〕 The development of the EC225, an enlarged variant of the AS332 Super Puma, was announced by Eurocopter in June 1998. The principle differences of the EC225 from the preceding AS332 are the adoption of Spheriflex rotor technology and new FADEC-controlled Turbomeca Makila 2A turboshaft engines, along with a redesigned main gearbox to accommodate the rotor and engine changes, and the addition of an integrated flight display system; these changes resulted in higher speeds and comfort, as well as greater flight safety and reduced operating costs.〔 On 27 November 2000, the first prototype performed its maiden flight. In July 2004, the type received its airworthiness certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency.〔("The EC 225 is Certified IFR by the European Airworthiness Security Agency." ) ''Eurocopter'', 29 July 2004.〕 In February 2014, Airbus Helicopters announced at Heli-Expo 2014 that they were developing an improved variant of the helicopter, the EC225e. The EC225e shall feature numerous changes such as new avionics systems, such as the TCAS II collision avoidance system, an automatic identification system, and a specialized rig-approach system; it also features an improved Turbomeca Makila 2B engine to increase the EC225e's maximum takeoff weight by 550 kg, and an additional fuel tank in the rear baggage compartment to extend its range to 300 nautical miles with up to ten passengers on board. Some, but not all, modifications can be retrofitted onto existing EC225s.〔Osborne, Tony. ("Airbus Launches Refreshed EC225." ) ''Aviation Week'', 26 February 2014.〕〔Trimble, Stephen. ("HELI-EXPO: Airbus adds power, range and automation to EC225." ) ''Flight International'', 26 February 2014.〕 In the same announcement in February 2014, Lease Corporation International said that they had placed a $645 million order for 15 EC225e (along with 6 Airbus Helicopters EC175) helicopters as the launch customer for the improved variant.〔("LCI orders 6 Airbus Helicopters EC175s; becomes an EC225e launch customer, ordering 15." )〕 In 2015, Airbus Helicopters announced at the Paris Air Show that it had begun development of a clean-sheet successor to the EC225, initially designated ''X6''.〔("Airbus starts development of new X6 heavy helicopter." ) ''Reuters'', 16 June 2015.〕 The EC225's production line has been projected to continue manufacturing activity until around 2030, initially overlapping with its successor.〔Perry, Dominic. ("Paris: Airbus Helicopters launches X6 concept phase." ) ''Flight International'', 16 June 2015.〕 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 EC225 Super Puma」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|