Airbus Helicopters H145
Airbus Helicopters · Germany · first flew 1999 · helicopter
The Airbus Helicopters H145 (formerly EC145) is a twin-engine light utility helicopter developed jointly by Eurocopter and Kawasaki, widely used as an air ambulance, police, and military light transport. It combines the EC135 fenestron tail system with a larger BK 117-derived cabin.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.03 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin turboshaft light helicopter with NOTAR or fenestron tail
- Five-blade bearingless main rotor on latest H145M variant
- Widely used air ambulance and military light utility helicopter
A twin-engine light helicopter with a fenestron tail rotor, wide squared fuselage, and (in the H145M) a distinctive five-blade rotor; larger than the EC135 but from the same family lineage.
Specifications
- The Airbus Helicopters H145 has a length of 13.03 m (43 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 268 km/h (167 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The EC145 emerged from a joint development programme between Eurocopter and Kawasaki, combining European and Japanese expertise. It entered service in the early 2000s and quickly found favour with German air rescue operators (DRF Luftrettung) and the US Army, which ordered it as the UH-72 Lakota. The five-blade H145M variant became the new standard for military customers.
Variants
Civil H145 and military H145M; the UH-72 Lakota is the US Army variant; Kawasaki built BK117C-2 variants for the Japanese market.
Where you'll see it
Extensively used by German, French, and US Army aviation for training and utility; major air ambulance fleets operate the H145 across Europe; it has been adopted by several special forces units.
Related aircraft
- Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracal
- Airbus H155 (EC155)
- Eurocopter EC635
- H135
- Eurocopter EC 145
- Eurocopter EC130 B4
- Kazan Ansat
- AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant
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