Airbus Helicopters EC135
The Eurocopter (now Airbus) EC135, marketed since 2015 as the H135, is one of the most widely used light twin-engine helicopters for air ambulance, police, and offshore work. Its fenestron tail rotor, a shrouded fan set into the tail fin rather than an exposed rotor, cuts noise and removes the risk of a tail-rotor strike on the ground. A bearingless main rotor system needs fewer moving parts than older designs, reducing maintenance. Customers can choose between Safran Arrius or Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206 engines on the same airframe, a flexibility few light twins offer. Thousands have been delivered worldwide since it entered service in 1996.
Did you know?
The EC135/H135's fenestron tail rotor, a shrouded fan set into the tail fin, cuts noise and avoids tail-rotor strikes.
Specifications
| Length | 12.3 m (40 ft) |
|---|---|
| Height | 3.9 m (13 ft) |
| Rotor diameter | 10.4 m (34 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 6 |
| Persons on board | 7 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 2.7 t |
| Range | 342 NM (633 km) |
| Maximum speed | 140 kt (259 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 7,200 ft (2,195 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 8,000 ft (2,438 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,500 ft/min (7.6 m/s) |
| Fuel capacity | 600 l |
| Engines | 2x Safran Arrius 2B2 Plus or Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B3 |
| Units built | 1,400 |
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.
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