Rotorcraft · ICAO S278

Hesa Shahed 278

The Shahed 278 is an Iranian light helicopter developed from the Bell 206 family for training, liaison, and observation duties. It retains the narrow cabin and two-blade rotor of its American ancestor but uses locally assembled systems and Iranian service support. The programme was part of an effort to maintain helicopter capability despite restricted access to foreign spares. Its limited production and almost entirely domestic operation make it a rare type outside Iranian airspace.

Hesa Shahed 278, example photo from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Shahram Sharifi · GFDL 1.2 · Wikimedia Commons

Did you know?

The Shahed 278 is Iran's own version of the Bell 206, sharing its narrow cabin and two-blade rotor but built domestically.

Specifications

Length10.2 m (33 ft)
Height2.8 m (9 ft)
Rotor diameter10.2 m (33 ft)
Maximum passengers4
Persons on board4
Crew1
Maximum take-off weight1.4 t
Range300 NM (556 km)
Maximum speed120 kt (222 km/h)
Service ceiling13,000 ft (3,962 m)
Optimum ceiling8,000 ft (2,438 m)
Rate of climb1,280 ft/min (6.5 m/s)
Fuel capacity280 l
Engines1x Rolls-Royce 250-C20
Units built7

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 Hesa Shahed 278 starts as a Legendary 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. The first catch of a legendary type pays a bonus of its own.

A catch counts for the manufacturer Hesa, the Shahed 278 family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.

Catch it yourself.CatchFlights shows the aircraft flying near you on a radar, so a type like this one is only a catch away when it passes overhead. Explore CatchFlights.

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