Airbus H155 (EC155)
Airbus Helicopters · France · first flew 1997 · helicopter
The Airbus H155 (originally Eurocopter EC155) is an eight-seat twin-engine medium helicopter bridging the gap between the AS365 Dauphin and H160, recognisable by its wide-nosed fuselage, Fenestron tail, and panoramic cockpit glazing.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Wide, flattened fuselage nose with large wraparound windscreen giving panoramic cockpit glazing |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Fenestron shrouded tail rotor — a flush-mounted fan in the tail fin, unlike the AS365's exposed Fenestron or H160's canted five-blade tail rotor
- Eight-seat passenger configuration with wide flat-floor cabin; larger than AS365's six seats but smaller than H160
- Wide, flattened fuselage nose with large wraparound windscreen giving panoramic cockpit glazing
Compared to the AS365 Dauphin it replaces, the H155 has a wider, more bulbous nose and a more smoothly integrated Fenestron; compared to the newer H160, the H155 lacks the H160's distinctive canted five-blade tail rotor and gull-wing-section main blades.
Specifications
- The Airbus H155 (EC155) has a length of 14.3 m (47 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.6 m (41 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 287 km/h (178 mph).
- Typical crew: 1–2 pilots + 8 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed as the Dauphin replacement, the EC155 first flew in June 1997 and entered service in 1999. It introduced the Spheriflex rotor head and improved Fenestron over the AS365, providing lower vibration and better all-weather capability. Airbus redesignated the type H155 in 2015 under the H-series naming convention.
Variants
The EC155B1 is the main production mark with uprated Turbomeca Arriel 2C2 engines; the H155 corporate/VIP interior is popular with charter operators. The type was offered in EMS fit with a medical interior for air ambulance operations.
Where you'll see it
Several UK HEMS operators evaluated the H155; the type is widely used by European offshore oil-support and EMS operators. Bond Air Services and Babcock have operated the type in the UK in various configurations.
Related aircraft
- Airbus Helicopters H145
- Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracal
- H135
- Eurocopter EC635
- Bell 427
- Eurocopter EC 155B
- HESA Shahed 274
- Indonesian Aerospace NAS 332
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