Eurocopter EC 145
Eurocopter · Germany/France · first flew 1999 · helicopter
The EC 145 is an enlarged, modernised development of the BK 117, a medium twin optimised for emergency medical services, police and light utility transport.
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:
- Enlarged BK 117 cabin with rear clamshell doors
- Four-blade hingeless main rotor, open tail rotor
- Twin endplate fins on the tailplane
Look for the roomy square cabin with large rear clamshell doors, the open tail rotor, and the tailplane fitted with twin small endplate fins.
Specifications
- The Eurocopter EC 145 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
Derived as the BK 117 C-2, it first flew in 1999 and entered service in the early 2000s with a bigger cabin, glass cockpit and Turbomeca Arriel engines. It was later rebranded the Airbus H145.
Variants
The civil EC 145 spawned the militarised UH-72 Lakota for the US Army and various parapublic fits. Later H145 developments introduced Fenestron tails and additional rotor blades.
Where you'll see it
Widely operated by air ambulance charities and police units across the UK and Europe, it is prized for its spacious flat-floor cabin and rear loading. It also serves numerous military liaison roles abroad.
Related aircraft
- Eurocopter EC130 B4
- Eurocopter EC225 / EC725
- Eurocopter EC 155B
- Eurocopter EC 120 B Colibri
- Airbus Helicopters H145
- Kazan Ansat
- AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant
- Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracal
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