Airbus Helicopters H225/H215 (Super Puma) History

History of Airbus Helicopters H225/H215 (Super Puma)

Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters (France)) developed the EC225 "Super Cougar" for passenger transport, especially in the oil and gas industry where long-distance transport of company personnel is essential. The first flight was recorded on November 27, 2000, and it was deployed in December 2004.

The EC225 is a derivative of the 1978 Eurocopter AS332 "Super Puma" product, while the EC725 "Super Cougar" is a related development of the EC225 family for tactical transport.

The core of the Super Puma retains the basic form and function of its predecessor. It was a twin-engine design with the engines mounted above the canopy and driving a five-blade main rotor and a four-blade tail rotor (set on the starboard side). The glass in the cockpit area is excellent for the best view, and round rectangular windows are placed along the sides of the hull.

The pilot uses hinged automotive-style access doors, while the cabin is served by sliding doors. The rear unit is raised for good ground clearance. The wheel chassis is retractable. Inside, the cabin can accommodate up to 24 passengers, in addition to two standard operators and an optional cabin attendant.

Passenger seating arrangements can be customized to the buyer's needs.

While the helicopter is primarily sold to the oil and gas industry, it also charges for services in the VIP passenger sector as well as for policing and humanitarian work. Development setbacks allowed the massive entry of super jaguars within a few years, with several fairly conspicuous ditches (some dead).

Variants of the Super Puma series now include the EC225 LP (a modified version based on the AS332 L2), the EC225 FF/SAR (fire/search and rescue platform) and the EC225e (a modernized version of the Turbomeca "Maki???la") Model series 2B turboshaft engine. EC225 "Super Puma Mk II+" marketed as the next generation of the Super Puma series.

EC225 Super Puma operators are Algeria, Argentina, Canada, China, France, Greenland, Japan, Malaysia, Oman, Taiwan, Spain, United Kingdom and Vietnam.

Specification

Basic

Year: 2004 Status: active, on duty Staff: 3

Production

[175 units]: Airbus Helicopters (Eurocopter) - France

Roles

- Traffic

- Commercial Market

- VIP traffic

- Search and Rescue (SAR)

Dimensions

Length:

19.5m

Width:

53.15 ft (16.2 m)

Height:

16.31 ft (4.97 m)

Weight

Curb Weight:

11,596 lb (5,260 kg)

MTOW:

11,200 kg

(difference: +13,095 pt)

Performance

2 x Turbomeca Makila 2A1 turboshaft engines, each producing 2,382 hp, simultaneously powering the five-blade main rotor and four-blade tail rotor.

Performance

Maximum Speed:

171 mph (276 km/h; 149 knots)

Service Limit:

19,357 ft (5,900 m; 3.67 mi)

Maximum range:

534 miles (860 km; 464 nmi)

Rate of climb:

521 m/min

Armor

No.

Changes

H225 Base series designation under the Airbus Helicopters brand label.

EC225 Base series name under the Eurocopter brand.

EC225 LP - EC225 replaces Eurocopter's improved AS332 L2 "Super Puma".

EC225 SAR - Professional search and rescue platform with firefighting duties; forward looking infrared; radar.

EC225 Super Cougar Mk II+

H225 - Airbus production designation

H225M - Renamed EC725 model for civilian market

H215 - Renamed from AS332 Super Puma.