Aérospatiale AS350B Écureuil

Aérospatiale · France · first flew 1974 · helicopter

The AS350B Écureuil (Squirrel) is a highly successful French single-turbine light helicopter produced by Aérospatiale, widely known in North America as the AStar.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, rotary
E — Engines	1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	10.93 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Single-turbine light helicopter with Starflex three-blade rotor
Wrap-around bubble windscreen gives panoramic visibility
Marketed as AStar in North America

Identified by the large wrap-around greenhouse windscreen, three-blade Starflex rotor, distinctive teardrop-shaped rear fuselage, and skid undercarriage.

Specifications

The Aérospatiale AS350B Écureuil has a length of 10.93 m (36 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.69 m (35 ft).
Its maximum speed is 234 km/h (145 mph).
Typical crew: 1 + up to 5 passengers.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Aérospatiale flew the prototype AS350 in 1974, and the type entered production in 1978; it became one of the best-selling light helicopters in the world with over 4,000 built. The Starflex composite rotor head and large wrap-around windscreen are hallmarks of the design.

Variants

The AS350 family includes the B, B1, B2, B3, and D variants with progressively more powerful engines; the B3 is the high-altitude variant that operated on Mount Everest.

Where you'll see it

In service worldwide with police, EMS, tourism, military, and utility operators on every continent.

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