Eurocopter EC175

Infobox Aircraft
name= EC175


caption=
type= Medium utility helicopter
manufacturer= Eurocopter Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG)
designer=
first flight= 2011
introduced= 2012
retired=
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variants with their own articles= __NOTOC__

The Eurocopter EC175 (also Harbin Z-15) is a 7-ton class medium utility helicopter being developed by Eurocopter and Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG). Formally launched at EC175 at Heli-Expo in Houston on 24 February 2008, the EC175 is due to be certified in 2011, with Eurocopter aiming to sell approximately 800 to 1,000 EC175s over 20 years. Eurocopter Rotor News 75. [http://www.eurocopter.com/w1/jrotor/75/star.html#I0000f69b "EC175, a star is born"] ] Warwick, Graham. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/02/25/221792/heli-expo-2008-eurocopter-unveils-ec175-names-launch-customers.html "Heli-Expo 2008: Eurocopter unveils EC175, names launch customers."] "Flight Global". Flightglobal.com. Accessed 28 February 2008.]

Development

A development contract for the EC175 was signed on 5 December 2005, with Preliminary Design Review (PDR) completed on 5 December 2006 and Critical Design Review (CDR) completed on 5 December 2007. First flight of the EC175 is expected in late 2009, with EASA certification in 2011 and initial deliveries in 2012. Development of the EC175 is expected to cost €600 million. Eurocopter Rotor News 75. [http://www.eurocopter.com/w1/jrotor/75/star.html#I0000f69b "EC175, a star is born"] ] The EC175 is being developed through close cooperation with existing operators, through a customer advisory team (CAT) approach. Eurocopter Rotor News 76. [http://www.eurocopter.com/w1/jrotor/76/ec175.html "The EC175 arrives on the scene"] ]

The EC175 will be built for civilian and parapublic applications, its primary markets being support of the oil and gas industry and search and rescue missions. Other applicable roles include parapublic operations, homeland security, air medical services, utility missions and corporate transportation.

The EC175 will be extensively designed and built using computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM). The gears and the casing of the EC175's main gearbox (MGB) have, for example, been completely developed using Catia V5, a first for Eurocopter. The use of CAD has allowed Eurocopter and HAIG to create a virtual mock-up, simplifying the task of coordinating between partners based 10,000 km apart. Eurocopter Rotor News 66. [http://www.eurocopter.com/w1/jrotor/66/ec175.html "Immediate Results"] ]

Eurocopter will have responsibility for the EC175's main gearbox, tail rotor, avionics, autopilot, hydraulic and electrical systems, doors and transparencies. Eurocopter will also be the technical lead and system integrator, and will build two of the three prototypes (the first and third). HAIG will be responsible for the airframe, tail and intermediate gearboxes, main rotor, fuel system, flight controls and landing gear. Aviation Week & Space Technology, 7 April 2008.]

The twin-engined EC175 will be powered by two 1,325 kW (2,000 shp) class, Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC)-equipped Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67E turboshafts, with 5,000 hour time between overhaul (TBO) and on-condition maintenance. Aviation International News. [http://www.ainonline.com/ain-and-ainalerts/aviation-international-news/single-publication-story/browse/0/article/new-rotorcraft/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Bstory_pointer%5D=6&tx_ttnews%5Bmode%5D=1 "New Rotorcraft"] ] The aircraft will use a five-blade Spheriflex main rotor and a three-blade tail rotor. The EC175's main gearbox will incorporate two accessory gearboxes and will be de-clutchable, avoiding the cost and weight of an auxiliary power unit (APU). Eurocopter EC175 trifold brochure, March 2008.]

The EC175 will be offered with a 16-seat interior for oil and gas transport, with easy access through wide sliding doors, and will feature oversized jettisionable windows. The EC175 will feature a flat floor, and will omit any partition between the cockpit and the cabin. The aircraft will be offered with optional auxiliary fuel tanks under the cabin floor. Eurocopter EC175 trifold brochure, March 2008.]

The EC175's cockpit will feature four 6X8 inch multi-function LCD displays, plus an optional central mission display. The EC175's state-of-the-art avionics are derived from those developed for the EC225, and include a 4-axis dual duplex autopilot, linked to the aircraft's Flight Management System. Eurocopter EC175 trifold brochure, March 2008.] Aviation Week & Space Technology, 7 April 2008.]

The EC175 will exceed EASA [http://www.easa.eu.int/doc/Agency_Mesures/Certification_Spec/expnote_cs29.pdf CS-29] crashworthiness requirements, and will be certified for full Cat. A dual pilot operation. The aircraft will have Sea State 6 capability, and will be equipped with two oversized 12-18 passenger liferafts. Eurocopter states that the EC175's noise signature will be "way below" International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirements. Eurocopter EC175 trifold brochure, March 2008.]

An initial assembly line for the EC175 is expected to be established at Eurocopter's Marignane plant, with a second Eurocopter assembly line to follow three or four years later. Thomson Financial News. [http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/06/30/afx5166030.html "Eurocopter CEO defends buy of German company, Romania outsourcing"] ]

Eurocopter booked a total of 111 purchase options from 13 customers during the EC175's former unveiling at Heli-Expo 2008, led by launch customers Bristow Helicopters and [http://www.vih.com VIH Aviation Group] . Other operators placing purchase options included [http://www.dancopter.dk DanCopter] , [http://www.erahelicopters.com Era Helicopters] and the Halvorson Group, [http://www.globalhelicorp.com Global Vectra Helicorp] , [http://www.heli-union.com Heli-Union] , [http://www.nhv.be NHV] , [http://www.helicopters.com.au HNZ Helicopter Group] , [http://www.transportes-pegaso.com Pegaso] and UTair Aviation. Eurocopter Rotor News 76. [http://www.eurocopter.com/w1/jrotor/76/ec175.html "The EC175 arrives on the scene"] ] Eurocopter Press Release. [http://www.eurocopter.com/publications/FO/scripts/newsFO_accueil_iframe.php?lang=EN&page=2&sel_rub=&search=# "Major success for Eurocopter at Heli-Expo 2008: 111 signatures for its brand new EC175, 120 orders for its current range"] ]

Variants

;EC175: Aircraft produced by Eurocopter for the European, American and international markets;Z-15: The People's Liberation Army plans to take delivery of the Chinese-built Z-15 variant in 2015-2020 to replace their existing fleet (older Mil Mi-8, Sikorsky S-70, Harbin Z-8 and Harbin Z-9).

Operators

;AUS
* [http://www.helicopters.com.au HNZ Helicopter Group] (purchase options);BEL
* [http://www.nhv.be NHV] (purchase options);CAN
* [http://www.vih.com|VIH Aviation Group] (purchase options);DNK
* [http://www.dancopter.dk DanCopter] (purchase options);FRA
* [http://www.heli-union.com Heli-Union] (purchase options);IND
* [http://www.globalhelicorp.com Global Vectra Helicorp] (purchase options);MEX
* [http://www.transportes-pegaso.com Pegaso] (purchase options);NZL
* [http://www.helicopters.com.au HNZ Helicopter Group] ] (purchase options);RUS
*UTair Aviation (purchase options);USA
*Bristow Helicopters (purchase options)
* [http://www.erahelicopters.com Era Helicopters] (purchase options)

pecifications (EC175)

Aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=copter
jet or prop?=prop
ref={name of first source} Eurocopter website
crew= 2 pilots
capacity= 16 passengers
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max takeoff weight main= 7,000 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 15,433 lb
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engine (prop)=Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67E
type of prop=turboshaft
number of props=2
power main= 1,325 kW
power alt= 2,000 shp
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ee also

Aircontent

similar aircraft=
* AgustaWestland AW139
* Sikorsky S-70
sequence=
Z-11
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References

External links

* [http://www.eurocopter.com/w1/ec175 Official page on the Eurocopter website]
* [http://www.eurocopter.com/publications/FO/scripts/newsFO_complet.php?lang=EN&news_id=538 Eurocopter unveils its brand-new EC175 at Heli-Expo 2008]
* [http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/helicopter/z15.asp Z-15 Medium Utility Helicopter Programme]