AS350B3e Écureuil
Airbus Helicopters (Eurocopter) · France · first flew 2011 · helicopter
The AS350B3e is the latest-production single-engine Écureuil, equipped with FADEC-controlled Safran Arriel 2D turboshaft and digital avionics, combining high hot-and-high performance with modern systems integration in one of the world's most prolific light utility helicopters.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.94 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Three-blade Starflex composite main rotor with no visible flapping hinges
- Single Arriel 2D turboshaft behind the rotor mast in a slender dorsal fairing
- Teardrop-shaped glazed cabin seating up to five with tubular skid undercarriage
The Écureuil's three-blade Starflex rotor without visible hinge hardware is a primary field identifier — the rotor head appears almost clean from below. The smooth teardrop fuselage, high-set tail boom, and fenestron-free conventional tail rotor (the AS355/H125 family uses a conventional tail rotor, unlike the EC135's Fenestron) distinguish it from Eurocopter's EC-series siblings.
Specifications
- The AS350B3e Écureuil has a length of 12.94 m (42 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.69 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 287 km/h (178 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot + up to 5 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Aérospatiale launched the AS350 Écureuil in the early 1970s as a Alouette II successor, with the prototype flying in 1974. The B3 variant introduced the Arriel 2B engine optimised for high-altitude operations, making it famous for summiting Everest in 2005. The B3e adds FADEC and enhanced avionics, certified in 2011, bringing the type fully into the digital era.
Variants
The AS350 family spans from the B (Arriel 1B) through B1, B2, B3 and B3e. The AS355 Écureuil 2 (Twinstar) is the twin-engine variant. Military versions are designated H125 in US Army service; Airbus now markets all variants as the H125.
Where you'll see it
The AS350/H125 family has sold more than 5,000 examples and is operated by police forces, EMS services, oil and gas operators, and military users on every continent. It is particularly dominant in the US law enforcement market and in high-altitude mountain operations worldwide.
Related aircraft
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