Rotorcraft · ICAO EC20

Airbus Helicopters EC-120 Colibri

The Eurocopter EC120 Colibri is a light single-engine helicopter distinguished by its Fenestron, an eight-blade shrouded tail rotor whose asymmetric blade spacing was tuned specifically to make the EC120 one of the quietest helicopters in its class. A single Turbomeca Arrius 2F turboshaft drives a three-blade composite main rotor, giving a cruise speed of about 125 kt and a range near 400 nm. Certified in the 1990s, it targeted private owners, flight schools and light utility operators wanting lower operating costs than the twin-engine Dauphin or Squirrel it complements in the range.

Airbus Helicopters EC-120 Colibri, example photo from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Steve Lynes from Sandshurst, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Did you know?

The EC120 Colibri brought the quiet, safer fenestron shrouded tail rotor down into the light training-helicopter class for the first time.

Specifications

Length9.6 m (31 ft)
Height3.4 m (11 ft)
Rotor diameter10 m (33 ft)
Maximum passengers4
Persons on board5
Maximum take-off weight1.7 t
Range395 NM (732 km)
Maximum speed130 kt (241 km/h)
Service ceiling17,000 ft (5,182 m)
Optimum ceiling15,000 ft (4,572 m)
Rate of climb1,299 ft/min (6.6 m/s)
Fuel capacity490 l
Engines1x Turbomeca Arrius 2F
Units built699

Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.

In CatchFlights

In CatchFlights the Airbus Helicopters EC-120 Colibri starts as a Uncommon catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.

A catch counts for the manufacturer Airbus Helicopters, the EC-120 Colibri family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.

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