Aérospatiale AS350 Écureuil
Airbus Helicopters · France · first flew 1974 · helicopter
The Aérospatiale AS350 Écureuil (Squirrel) is one of the world's most successful single-engine turbine helicopters, valued for its simplicity, reliability, and performance. It is used globally for air taxi, mountain operations, law enforcement, and military training.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.93 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single turboshaft light helicopter with Starflex rotor head
- Fenestron-less conventional tail rotor (unlike Dauphin)
- Enormously popular civil and para-public helicopter worldwide
A compact single-engine helicopter with a conventional tail rotor (not fenestron), large panoramic cabin glazing, and a distinctive Starflex four-blade rotor head visible at the rotor hub; smaller and narrower than the twin-engine Dauphin 2.
Specifications
- The Aérospatiale AS350 Écureuil has a length of 10.93 m (36 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.69 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 287 km/h (178 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed in the early 1970s to replace the Alouette II and III, the Écureuil introduced the innovative Starflex composite rotor head that eliminated traditional bearings and reduced maintenance. It entered service in 1978 and has sold over 5,000 examples. In North America it is marketed as the AStar.
Variants
Major variants include the AS350B, B2, B3 (high-altitude), and the twin-engine AS355 Écureuil 2; military versions include the H125 (AS350B3e) used by several air forces.
Where you'll see it
Operated by police forces, air ambulance services, mountain rescue units, and military training schools worldwide; the H125 variant has been used for high-altitude records including landing on Everest.
Related aircraft
- Airbus H125
- Aérospatiale AS365 Dauphin 2
- Airbus AS332 Super Puma
- Aérospatiale AS355 Écureuil 2
- Aérospatiale AS350B Écureuil
- Bell 206L LongRanger
- Eurocopter AS350 Ecureuil / AStar
- Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion
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