Eurocopter Group
The
Eurocopter Group is a global
helicopter manufacturing and support company formed in
1992 from the merger of the helicopter divisions of French
Aérospatiale and German
DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (
DASA).
In 2001, Eurocopter's worldwide and American market share were 40% and 30% respectively. On
May 14 2005, a Eurocopter Ecureuil production helicopter flew to the summit of
Mount Everest and performed a hover landing on its "South Pass", setting a world record for highest take-off [
1].
As a consequence of the merger of the Eurocopter Group's former parents, the firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
EADS.
Eurocopter manufactures or has manufactured the following types of helicopters:
*
Eurocopter BK-117 (with
Kawasaki Heavy Industries)
*
Eurocopter EC-135*
Eurocopter EC-145*
Eurocopter Colibri (EC 120 B)
*
Eurocopter Cougar*
Eurocopter Dauphin*
Eurocopter Ecureuil *
Eurocopter Fennec *
Eurocopter Panther*
Eurocopter Super Puma *
Eurocopter TigerOver its 62.5%-share Eurocopter also participates on the producion of the
NH90 Utility Helicopter Project.On some of Eurocopter's aircraft the main
rotor turns clockwise when viewed from above, unlike most American rotorcraft. This requires the pilot to make pedal movements that are the opposite to those learnt if previous flying has been on an American aircraft. On models developed in Germany or with their input (BK117, EC145, BO105, ect) this is not the case. Eurocopter also pioneered the use of the 'fenestron' - an enclosed tail-rotor, which is more efficient and safer than the exposed version.
Image:BK 117 Rescue.jpg|Bk-117Image:EC 135.jpg|EC-145 Image:Eurocopter Colibri 750pix.jpg|ColibriImage:Cougar heli ag1.jpg|CougarImage:CHC Dauphin 2.jpg|Dauphin
Image:Panther-Meuse.jpg|Panther
Image:Australian Army ARH Tiger front view.jpg|TigerImage:Eurocopter_EC-120B.jpg|Whisper *
Official Eurocopter Website*
Official EADS Website
