The Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) AS365 Dauphin (''Dolphin''), also formerly known as the Aérospatiale SA 365 Dauphin 2, is a medium-weight multipurpose twin-engine
helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward and laterally. These attributes ...
produced by
Airbus Helicopters. It was originally developed and manufactured by French firm
Aérospatiale, which was merged into the multinational
Eurocopter company during the 1990s. Since entering production in 1975, the type has been in continuous production for more than 40 years. The intended successor to the Dauphin is the
Airbus Helicopters H160
The Airbus Helicopters H160 (formerly X4) is a medium utility helicopter being developed by Airbus Helicopters. Formally launched at Heli-Expo in Orlando, Florida on 3 March 2015, it is intended to replace the AS365 and EC155 models in the fi ...
, which entered operational service in 2021.
The Dauphin 2 shares many similarities with the
Aérospatiale SA 360
Aérospatiale (), sometimes styled Aerospatiale, was a French state-owned aerospace manufacturer that built both civilian and military aircraft, rockets and satellites. It was originally known as Société nationale industrielle aérospatiale ( ...
, a commercially unsuccessful single-engine helicopter; however the twin-engine Dauphin 2 did meet with customer demand and has been operated by a wide variety of civil and military operators. Since the type's introduction in the 1970s, several major variations and specialised versions of the Dauphin 2 have been developed and entered production, including the military-oriented
Eurocopter Panther
The Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) AS565 Panther is the military version of the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin medium-weight multi-purpose twin-engine helicopter. The Panther is used for a wide range of military roles, including combat assault, f ...
, the air-sea rescue
HH/MH-65 Dolphin, the Chinese-manufactured
Harbin Z-9
The Harbin Z-9 (NATO reporting name "Haitun", for Dolphin) is a Chinese military utility helicopter with civilian variants. It is a licensed variant of the French Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin, and is manufactured by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing ...
and the modernised
Eurocopter EC155
The Eurocopter EC155 (now Airbus Helicopters H155) is a long-range medium-lift passenger transport helicopter developed by Eurocopter from its Dauphin family for civil aviation use. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up to 13 passenge ...
.
Development
The SA 365/AS365 Dauphin 2 is a twin-engine development of the commercially unsuccessful single-engined
Aérospatiale SA 360 Dauphin
The Aérospatiale SA 360 Dauphin was a single-engine French utility helicopter developed and produced by aerospace manufacturer Aérospatiale.
It was developed during the early 1970s as a replacement for the company's popular Alouette III helico ...
; only a year after the SA 360's entry into service, Aerospatiale had recognized that a platform powered by two engines rather than one was better suited to both civil and military operations, thus a redesign program was initiated.
[McGowen 2005, p. 125.] On 24 January 1975, the first twin-engine Dauphin prototype performed its first flight;
[Taylor 1980, p. 55] the prototype soon demonstrated an airspeed of 170 knots in level flight and set multiple speed records, among them the Paris-London trip at an average of 322 km/h.
![Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 AN1793291](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Eurocopter_AS-365N-3_Dauphin_2_AN1793291.jpg)
The initial production variant entered service under the original designation of SA 365C; French certification of this model was received in July 1978,
with US
FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...
and British
CAA certification following later that year. Deliveries to customers began in December 1978.
In 1982, the SA 356C Dauphin was succeeded by the more capable SA 365 N. Amongst several major design changes and improvements, the SA 365 N featured more powerful engines, greater use of
composite material
A composite material (also called a composition material or shortened to composite, which is the common name) is a material which is produced from two or more constituent materials. These constituent materials have notably dissimilar chemical or ...
s, a better cabin arrangement, and retractable landing gear.
[Chant 2014, p. 353.][McClellan 1989, p. 77.]
Further improvements were made with the introduction of the SA 365 N1, which had a substantially redesigned
Fenestron
A Fenestron (sometimes alternatively referred to as a fantail or a "fan-in-fin" arrangementLeishman 2006, p. 321.) is an enclosed helicopter tail rotor that operates like a ducted fan. The term ''Fenestron'' is a trademark of multinational heli ...
anti-torque device, and with the SA 365 N2, which was equipped with more powerful
Turbomeca Arriel 1C2 turboshaft
A turboshaft engine is a form of gas turbine that is optimized to produce shaftpower rather than jet thrust. In concept, turboshaft engines are very similar to turbojets, with additional turbine expansion to extract heat energy from the exhaust ...
engines.
In January 1990, the overall type was formally redesignated as the AS365. The AS365 Dauphin is one of Eurocopter's more successful helicopter designs; and has been widely used as a corporate transport, airborne law enforcement platform,
emergency medical services (EMS) helicopter,
electronic news gathering
Electronic news-gathering (ENG) or electronic journalism (EJ) is usage of electronic video and audio technologies by reporters to gather and present news instead of using film cameras. The term was coined during the rise of videotape techno ...
platform, and search and rescue helicopter.
The base Dauphin has been further developed into several purpose-built variants. During the 1980s, the SA 365 N was used as the basis for a militarised version of the Dauphin, initially designed as AS 365 K, which was used to perform utility, troop-transport, and maritime operations, widely known as the
Eurocopter Panther
The Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) AS565 Panther is the military version of the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin medium-weight multi-purpose twin-engine helicopter. The Panther is used for a wide range of military roles, including combat assault, f ...
.
[McGowen 2005, p. 163.] A variant of the Dauphin was specifically developed for and operated principally by the
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mu ...
under the designation
HH/MH-65 Dolphin. The SA 365 M model of the Dauphin has also been manufactured under licence in China as the
Z-9 by the
Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation
Harbin Aircraft Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. (HAIG), often shortened to Hafei (), is an aircraft manufacturing company headquartered in Pingfang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China. It was previously called Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing ...
; the Z-9 was subsequently developed into the armed
WZ-9
The WZ-9 is a turboshaft engine developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China
Aviation includes the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. ''Aircraft'' includes fixed-wing and rotary-wing types, mor ...
and
Z-19
The Harbin Z-19, also called WZ-19, is a Chinese light reconnaissance/attack helicopter developed by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (HAMC) for the People's Liberation Army Air Force and the Ground Force Army Aviation. It is a speci ...
attack helicopter.
Design
![Eurocopter AS365 N2 Dauphin cockpit](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Eurocopter_AS365_N2_Dauphin_cockpit.jpg)
The AS365 Dauphin is a twin-engine helicopter capable of travelling long ranges, and well suited to operating in climates of a high ambient temperature or at locations of significant altitude. The Dauphin is typically powered by a pair of
Turbomeca Arriel
The Turbomeca Arriel is a series of French turboshaft engines that first ran in 1974.Gunston 1989, p.170.
Delivering , over 12,000 Arriel engines have been produced from 1978 to 2018, logging more than 50 million flight hours for 40 helicopter ap ...
turboshaft
A turboshaft engine is a form of gas turbine that is optimized to produce shaftpower rather than jet thrust. In concept, turboshaft engines are very similar to turbojets, with additional turbine expansion to extract heat energy from the exhaust ...
engines; on later variants, these are equipped with
FADEC units, which provide additional functionality such as an automated start-up sequence and a training mode.
The engines drive the rotorcraft's foldable Starflex main rotor and its
Fenestron
A Fenestron (sometimes alternatively referred to as a fantail or a "fan-in-fin" arrangementLeishman 2006, p. 321.) is an enclosed helicopter tail rotor that operates like a ducted fan. The term ''Fenestron'' is a trademark of multinational heli ...
anti-
torque
In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the moment of force (also abbreviated to moment). It represents the capability of a force to produce change in the rotational motion of th ...
tail rotor via two separate transmissions; these
gearbox
Propulsion transmission is the mode of transmitting and controlling propulsion power of a machine. The term ''transmission'' properly refers to the whole drivetrain, including clutch, gearbox, prop shaft (for rear-wheel drive vehicles), differe ...
es are also connected to two separate hydraulic systems as well as a stand-by hydraulic system for emergency use, such as deployment of the landing gear.
Electrical power is provided by a pair of starter generators and a
NiCad (Nickel-Cadmium) main battery; an emergency battery is also present.
The main fuselage of the rotorcraft comprises the cabin area, a separate luggage compartment, and a retractable
tricycle landing gear
Tricycle gear is a type of aircraft undercarriage, or ''landing gear'', arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has a single nose wheel in the front, and two or more main wheels slightly aft of the center of gravity. Tricycle g ...
arrangement; a total of four conventional doors to access the main cabin are typically installed, which can be optionally replaced by a single clamshell air stair entrance instead.
[McClellan 1989, p. 80.] Various portions of the rotorcraft are made from composite materials, such as the rotor blades that made of
carbon fiber
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (American English), carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers (Commonwealth English), carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, carbon-fiber reinforced-thermoplastic (CFRP, CRP, CFRTP), also known as carbon fiber, carbon compo ...
, other materials are used in portions of the fuselage.
The fuselage features anti-
corrosion
Corrosion is a natural process that converts a refined metal into a more chemically stable oxide. It is the gradual deterioration of materials (usually a metal) by chemical or electrochemical reaction with their environment. Corrosion engi ...
protection and is structurally reinforced for an optional hoist or cargo sling to be installed, various other mooring and gripping points are also fitted on the rotocraft's exterior surface.
["AS365 N3+ Technical Data 2015."](_blank)
''Airbus Helicopters'', Retrieved: 22 November 2015. Various types and models of
radar
Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, we ...
can be installed in the Dauphin's nose.
The combination of the rotorcraft's Starflex main rotor and Fenestron tail provides a low-noise and low-vibration flight experience for those on board; Airbus Helicopters has claimed the sound emissions of the AS365 N3 to be 3.1
decibels below
International Civil Aviation Organization
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO, ) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation, and fosters the planning and development of international a ...
(ICAO) standards, making it the quietest helicopter in its class.
["AS365 N3+."](_blank)
''Airbus Helicopters'', Retrieved: 22 November 2015. The Dauphin can take off under a full load from sea level under Category A conditions.
The main cabin area is designed to be reconfigurable, a feature which is promoted to
emergency medical service
Emergency medical services (EMS), also known as ambulance services or paramedic services, are emergency services that provide urgent pre-hospital treatment and stabilisation for serious illness and injuries and transport to definitive care. ...
(EMS) and
search and rescue (SAR) operators. In a regular passenger transport layout, the cabin can accommodate up to 12 passengers in addition to the two pilots; up to seven passengers can be accommodated in a
VIP
A very important person or personage (VIP or V.I.P.) is a person who is accorded special privileges due to their high social status, influence or importance. The term was not common until sometime after World War 2 by RAF pilots.
Examples inc ...
layout.
Access to the cabin is via large sliding doors on either side of the helicopter, built-in boarding steps are typically installed to ease the boarding of passengers.
While the cockpit is typically equipped with dual flight controls for two-man operations, the Dauphin can be readily flown by a single pilot while operating under
instrument flight rules
In aviation, instrument flight rules (IFR) is one of two sets of regulations governing all aspects of civil aviation aircraft operations; the other is visual flight rules (VFR).
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) ''Instrument Fly ...
; this was achieved in part by avionics such as the 4-axis Dual Digital Automatic Flight Control System (older production aircraft use a 3-axis flight control system with integrated autopilot instead
[McClellan 1989, p. 78.]) to reduce crew workload. The principal
flight control system
A conventional fixed-wing aircraft flight control system consists of flight control surfaces, the respective cockpit controls, connecting linkages, and the necessary operating mechanisms to control an aircraft's direction in flight. Aircraft ...
are connected to a total of 3 dual-chamber primary
servo
Servo may refer to:
Mechanisms
* Servomechanism, or servo, a device used to provide control of a desired operation through the use of feedback
** AI servo, an autofocus mode
** Electrohydraulic servo valve, an electrically operated valve that c ...
-units for
cyclic
Cycle, cycles, or cyclic may refer to:
Anthropology and social sciences
* Cyclic history, a theory of history
* Cyclical theory, a theory of American political history associated with Arthur Schlesinger, Sr.
* Social cycle, various cycles in s ...
al and
collective pitch control, and a single dual-chamber rear servo-unit for tail rotor pitch control.
Other major avionics include multi-mission
touch screen
A touchscreen or touch screen is the assembly of both an input ('touch panel') and output ('display') device. The touch panel is normally layered on the top of an electronic visual display of an information processing system. The display is ofte ...
displays,
weather radar
Weather radar, also called weather surveillance radar (WSR) and Doppler weather radar, is a type of radar used to locate precipitation, calculate its motion, and estimate its type (rain, snow, hail etc.). Modern weather radars are mostly pulse- ...
,
global positioning system
The Global Positioning System (GPS), originally Navstar GPS, is a satellite-based radionavigation system owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force. It is one of the global navigation satellite sy ...
(GPS) receiver,
traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS), automatic voice alarm device (AVAD), health and usage monitoring system (HUMS), quick access records for helicopter flight data management, and digital audio communication system (DACS).
Operational history
In February 1980, the first series production Dauphin was used to break three separate speed-related world records in separate journeys between
Battersea,
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
,
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
and
Issy-les-Moulineaux
Issy-les-Moulineaux () is a commune in the southwestern suburban area of Paris, France, lying on the left bank of the river Seine. Its citizens are called ''Isséens'' in French. It is one of Paris' entrances and is located from Notre-Dame Cat ...
,
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...
,
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
.
In 1985, a new model of the Dauphin, the AS365 F, became the first rotorcraft in the world to fly with flight instruments being displayed in electronic displays, which replaced the traditional instrumentation; this variant was first procured by the
Irish Air Corps
"Watchful and Loyal"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries =
, equipment =
, equipment_label =
, battles = ''see list of wars''
, decorations =
, battle_honours =
, battle_honours_label =
, fl ...
for SAR operations.
["1972: SA360/ AS365 Dauphin – AS565 Panther- EC155."](_blank)
''Eurocopter'', Retrieved: 8 December 2015.
The French Navy operated the Dauphin, in addition to the dedicated military-orientated Panther variant, to conduct various missions such as the ''Dauphin Service Public '' which involves various duties from seaborne SAR, maritime monitoring, and responding to distress calls. French Navy Dauphins are commonly deployed on board the
aircraft carrier ''Charles de Gaulle'' as well as onboard other vessels of the French Navy and allies; they are fitted with a haul-down ''Harpoon'' in order to ease shipboard landings in rough weather.
In November 2011, the French Navy began operational use of a newer model of the Dauphin, the Dauphin N3+, as a replacement for aging
Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma
The Airbus Helicopters H215 (formerly Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma) is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-size utility helicopter developed and initially produced by the French aerospace company Aérospatiale. It has been subsequently manufactu ...
s stationed in
French Polynesia;
["The first Dauphin AS365 N3+ SAR Shines In French Polynesia."](_blank)
''Rotor'', June 2012. the primary missions being SAR and MEDIVAC duties in this region.
![AS 365N-3 EC-KTS 01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/AS_365N-3_EC-KTS_01.jpg)
By 1980, a total of 265 AS360/361/365 Dauphins had been delivered, 88% of these deliveries were to foreign customers in a total of 23 different nations. Amongst the biggest early customers for the type was
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the A ...
, which ordered 24 Dauphins, and
Angola
, national_anthem = " Angola Avante"()
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capital = Luanda
, religion =
, religion_year = 2020
, religion_ref =
, coordina ...
, with an order for 17 Dauphins. The largest civil customers of the type has been Indian operator
Pawan Hans
Pawan Hans Limited is a central public sector undertaking based at Noida in Delhi NCR, India. It is under the ownership of Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India. It has cumulatively flown more than 1 million hours and has had ...
, who by 2003 had a fleet of 19 Dauphins (nearly two-thirds of their total rotary fleet) and were in the process of procuring another 11 Dauphins to allow older aircraft to be phased out; they have been frequently used to support offshore oil extraction activities.
In February 1991, it was announced that the 500th Dauphin had been delivered to
Bond Helicopters
Offshore Helicopter Services (OHS) (known as Bond Offshore Helicopters until April 2016) is a British helicopter operator, specialising in providing offshore helicopter transportation services to North Sea and Irish Sea oil and gas platforms.
C ...
, who at that time operated a total of 15 of the type, with additional Dauphins on order. By 1991, the Dauphin was being operated by 138 customers across 44 nations. In December 2006, Eurocopter president Fabrice Brégier stated that between 30 and 40 Dauphins were being delivered each year. By 2011, more than 1,000 AS365/366/565 versions had been produced; Pawan Hans took delivery of the 1,000th Dauphin produced in April 2011, at which point the type was reportedly in service with over 300 operators worldwide.
[Dubois, Thierry]
"Rotorcraft Update: Eurocopter Delivers 1,000th Dauphin."
''AIN Online'', 23 May 2011.
Prior to the
2004 Summer Olympics, five AS 356N3 Dauphins were procured for the
Hellenic Coast Guard
The Hellenic Coast Guard ( el, Λιμενικό Σώμα-Ελληνική Ακτοφυλακή, Limeniko Soma-Elliniki Aktofylaki, Port Corps-Hellenic Coast Guard) is the national coast guard of Greece. Like many other coast guards, it is a para ...
for harbor surveillance purposes. Between 2009 and 2012, the
Army Air Corps Army Air Corps may refer to the following army aviation corps:
* Army Air Corps (United Kingdom), the army aviation element of the British Army
* Philippine Army Air Corps (1935–1941)
* United States Army Air Corps (1926–1942), or its p ...
of the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
took delivery of five Dauphins, these were assigned to
No. 658 Squadron AAC
658 Squadron AAC is an Army Air Corps unit of the British Army that provides dedicated aviation support to the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment (22 SAS) for domestic counter terrorism (CT) operations. The squadron is co-located with 22 SAS at ...
to replace four
AgustaWestland A109 helicopters being used to support
Special Air Service (SAS) operations.
, the AS365 N variant of the Dauphin holds the world speed record for a course, set at in 1991.
[FAI Record ID #11658 – Speed over a 3 km course. Class E-Rotorcraft (Absolute Record of class E) ]
" '' Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).'' Retrieved: 21 September 2014. Others: 2084, 2085
Variants
Civilian variants
;SA 365 C
:A twin-engined version of the Dauphin, designated as the Dauphin 2, was announced in early 1973. The first prototype's first flight took place on 24 January 1975; production model deliveries began in December 1978. In comparison with the earlier model, the SA 365 C featured twin Arriel 1 turboshafts in a new engine fairing, a Starflex main rotor hub and a higher maximum take-off weight (). Its Fenestron anti-torque device featured 13 metal blades. Production of both the SA 360 and SA 365 C ceased in 1981, by which time approximately 40 SA 360s and 50 SA 365 C/C1s had been built; both were replaced by the SA 365 N.
;SA 365 C1
:Variant powered by Arriel 1A1 certified in March 1979.
;SA 365 C2
:Variant powered by Arriel 1A2 certified in February 1980.
;SA 365 C3
:Variant powered by Arriel 1C certified in January 1982.
;SA 365 N
:A much improved version of the SA 365 C Dauphin 2, the first prototype flying on 31 March 1979. This version introduced the uprated Arriel 1C turboshafts, a retractable
tricycle undercarriage
Tricycle gear is a type of aircraft undercarriage, or ''landing gear'', arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has a single nose wheel in the front, and two or more main wheels slightly aft of the center of gravity. Tricycle g ...
, enlarged tail surfaces, and revised transmission, main rotor, rotor mast fairing and engine cowlings. The aircraft's initial M.T.O.W. of was later raised to . Deliveries of the production model began in 1982.
;SA 365 N1
:Incorporating many of the improvements developed for the SA 366 G1 (
HH-65 Dolphin
The Eurocopter MH-65 Dolphin is a twin-engined helicopter operated by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for medevac-capable search and rescue (SAR) and armed Airborne Use of Force missions. It is a variant of the French-built Eurocopter AS ...
), this version introduced upgraded Arriel 1C1 turboshafts, an improved 11-blade Fenestron with wider-chord blades (which reduced the AS365 N1's noise signature), movable undercarriage doors replaced by simplified fairings and a higher gross weight of .
;AS 365 N2
:This version – designated AS365 N2 from the outset – introduced the upgraded Arriel 1C2 turboshafts, an uprated gearbox, increased maximum take-off weight of , redesigned cabin doors and revised interior, enlarged tail fin with all composite Fenestron. Deliveries of this version started in 1990. Licensed versions were assembled in China as the Z-9, Z-19 and AVIC AC312.
;AS365 N3
:The high-performance AS365 N3 was developed for operations in 'hot and high' climates, and introduced Arriel 2C turboshafts equipped with a single channel DECU (Digital Engine Control Unit) with manual reversion, mated to an uprated main transmission for better single engine performance. The AS365 N3 also features a redesigned ten blade composite Fenestron anti-torque device with asymmetric blade distribution, offering a further reduction in noise signature. The AS365 N3's gross weight is . Production deliveries began in December 1998. The last one was delivered on 21 January 2022.
;AS365 N3+
:This version was presented at the 2009 Paris Air Show and differs mainly in new avionics including 4-axis auto-pilot This version is currently still in production.
;AS365 N4
:Produced as the
EC155
The Eurocopter EC155 (now Airbus Helicopters H155) is a long-range medium-lift passenger transport helicopter developed by Eurocopter from its Dauphin family for civil aviation use. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up to 13 passenge ...
.
;AS365 X
:Better known as the DGV 200 or Dauphin Grand Vitesse (High Speed Dauphin), the AS365 X was developed from the X-380 DTP (Developpement Technique Probatoire or Probatory Technical Development) testbed, first flown on 20 March 1989. The aircraft was first flown in the AS365 X configuration two years later in March 1991, and featured a smaller Fenestron, a new main rotor with five high-inertia blades with swept tips, a composite rotor hub/mast and Turbomeca Arriel IX turboshafts. On 19 November 1991, this aircraft set a Class E1e () speed record of over a triangular course.
![Eurocopter EC 155 Dauphin](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Eurocopter_EC_155_Dauphin.jpg)
;EC155 B/B1
:This version was originally to follow the N3 as the AS365 N4, and was announced at the 1997 Paris Airshow before being redesignated as the EC155 B. As with the N3 version, it has two Arriel 2C/2C2 turboshafts equipped with FADEC as well as a five blade Spheriflex main rotor (derived from the AS365 X DGV). It also features a 30% larger main cabin (achieved with bulged doors and cabin plugs). The first flight of the first prototype took place on 17 June 1997 and this version is currently in production (as the EC155 B1).
Military variants
;AS565 Panther
* See
Eurocopter AS565 Panther
The Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) AS565 Panther is the military version of the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin medium-weight multi-purpose twin-engine helicopter. The Panther is used for a wide range of military roles, including combat assault, f ...
;SA 366 G1 Dauphin
: The SA 366 G1 Dauphin version was selected by the
US Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and maritime law enforcement, law enforcement military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight Uniformed services ...
(USCG) in 1979 as its new air-sea rescue helicopter and given the designation
HH-65A Dolphin.
In total 99 helicopters, optimized for the USCG's short-range recovery (SRR) search and rescue role, were initially acquired, with additional aircraft later procured.
;SA 365 N Dauphin
: A much improved version of the SA 365 C Dauphin 2, the first prototype flying on 31 March 1979. This version introduced the upgraded Arriel 1C turbo-shafts, a retractable tricycle undercarriage, enlarged tail surfaces, and revised transmission, main rotor, rotor mast fairing and engine cowlings. The aircraft's initial M.T.O.W. of was later raised to . Deliveries of the production model began in 1982.
;SA 365 F Dauphin
:The SA 365 F is a variant of the SA 365 N for the
French Navy
The French Navy (french: Marine nationale, lit=National Navy), informally , is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the five military service branches of France. It is among the largest and most powerful naval forces in t ...
. It has been used since 1991 for general duties and for backup purposes aboard an
aircraft carrier. A helicopter with rescue divers is always in the air during flight operations to be able to assist the pilot in case of an accident. First experiments were successfully carried out in 1990 on board the . The variant 365F is used since 1999 with Flottille 35F called AS365F Dauphin Pedro.
![Panther-051306-N-9546C-001](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Panther-051306-N-9546C-001.jpg)
;AS365 N3 Dauphin
:The high-performance AS365 N3 was developed for operations in 'hot and high' climates, and introduced Arriel 2C turbo-shafts equipped with a single channel DECU (Digital Engine Control Unit) with manual reversion, mated to an upgraded main transmission for better single engine performance. The AS365 N3 also features a redesigned ten blade composite Fenestron anti-torque device with asymmetric blade distribution, offering a further reduction in noise signature. The AS365 N3's gross weight is . Production deliveries began in December 1998.
;AS365 N3+
:This version was presented by Eurocopter at the 2009 Paris Air Show and differs mainly in new avionics including a 4-axis auto-pilot.
Operators
![ANH AS365N2 JA61NH Maishima 20081018-003](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/ANH_AS365N2_JA61NH_Maishima_20081018-003.jpg)
The Dauphin is flown by a range of private operators, companies, emergency services, government agencies and air charter companies.
Government operators
;
*
Victoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of the Australian state of Victoria. It was formed in 1853 and currently operates under the ''Victoria Police Act 2013''.
, Victoria Police had over 22,300 staff, comprising over 16,700 ...
*
Western Australia Police
The Western Australia Police Force, colloquially WAPOL, provides police services throughout the state of Western Australia, an area of 2.5 million square kilometres, the world's largest non-federated area of jurisdiction, with a population ...
;
*
Argentine Coast Guard
The Argentine Naval Prefecture ( es, Prefectura Naval Argentina or PNA) is a service of Argentina's Security Ministry charged with protecting the country's rivers and maritime territory. It therefore fulfills the functions of other countries' coa ...
;
*
Sécurité Civile
The (General directorate for civil defense and crisis management) is a civil defense agency of the French Government. It operates for the Ministry of the Interior and employs some 2,500 civilian and military personnel over 60 sites. Known as the ...
;
*
Hellenic Coast Guard
The Hellenic Coast Guard ( el, Λιμενικό Σώμα-Ελληνική Ακτοφυλακή, Limeniko Soma-Elliniki Aktofylaki, Port Corps-Hellenic Coast Guard) is the national coast guard of Greece. Like many other coast guards, it is a para ...
;
*
Icelandic Coast Guard
The Icelandic Coast Guard (, or simply ) is the Icelandic defence service responsible for search and rescue, maritime safety and security surveillance, and law enforcement in the seas surrounding Iceland. The Coast Guard maintains the Iceland ...
![AS-365N Dauphin 2 of The Iceland Coast Guard (cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/AS-365N_Dauphin_2_of_The_Iceland_Coast_Guard_%28cropped%29.jpg)
;
*
Indonesian National Police
*
National Search and Rescue Agency
The National Search and Rescue Agency ( id, Badan Nasional Pencarian dan Pertolongan, literally translated Search and Rescue National Agency; formerly named ''Badan SAR Nasional'', both abbreviated Basarnas) is a government agency of Indonesia. ...
*
National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure
The National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (Indonesian: ''Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana''; officially National Disaster Management Agency), abbreviated as BNPB, is the Indonesian board for natural disaster affairs. It was establishe ...
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*
Tokyo Fire Department
The Tokyo Fire Department (TFD) (Japanese: 東京消防庁, Tokyo Shōbōchō) is a fire department headquartered in Ōtemachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. [Eurocopter as365 airframes in Japan](_blank)
''Helicopter Database''[ Thompson, Pau]
Fire/Disaster Prevention
''J-HangarSpace''
*
Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
The serves as the prefectural police department of Tokyo Metropolis. Founded in 1874, it is headed by a Superintendent-General, who is appointed by the National Public Safety Commission, and approved by the Prime Minister.
The Tokyo Met ...
[Thompson, Pau]
Police Air Units
''J-HangarSpace''
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*
Kuwait Police
The Kuwait Police ( ar, شرطة الكويت) is an agency of the Ministry of Interior of Kuwait, which maintains the national security envelope, defense of land border, coastal and the rule of law in the State of Kuwait. The Kuwait Police Agenc ...
;
![M70-02_(8231200851)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/M70-02_%288231200851%29.jpg)
*
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (Abbr.; MMEA; ms, Agensi Penguatkuasaan Maritim Malaysia – ''APMM''); formally known as Malaysia Coast Guard for international identification, is the coast guard organisation of Malaysia, and principa ...
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Netherlands Coastguard
The Netherlands Coastguard ( nl, Kustwacht Nederland) is maritime law enforcement branch of the Royal Netherlands Navy patrolling the Dutch coastline. Its operational command falls under the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Netherlands Navy ...
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*
Guardia Civil
The Civil Guard ( es, Guardia Civil, link=no; ) is the oldest law enforcement agency in Spain and is one of two national police forces. As a national gendarmerie force, it is military in nature and is responsible for civil policing under the au ...
*
Servicio de Vigilancia Aduanera
The Customs Surveillance Service ( es, Servicio de Vigilancia Aduanera, SVA) is a law enforcement agency of the Spanish Ministry of Finance, integrated in the Spanish Tax Agency. Its responsibilities include the investigation and prosecution of ...
;
*
Akademiska sjukhuset
Uppsala University Hospital ( sv, Akademiska sjukhuset'', often referred to colloquially as "Akademiska" or "Ackis"'') in Uppsala, Sweden, is a teaching hospital for the Uppsala University Faculty of Medicine and the Nursing School. Uppsala Univer ...
;
*
National Airborne Service Corps
The National Airborne Service Corps (NASC; ) is the sole agency of the Republic of China (Taiwan) that operates aircraft and helicopters besides military and paramilitary units. The agency is responsible for executing and providing aerial supp ...
;
*
Serviciul Român de Informații
The Romanian Intelligence Service ( ro, Serviciul Român de Informații, abbreviated SRI) is Romania's main domestic intelligence service. Its role is to gather information relevant to national security and hand it over to relevant institutions, ...
4 helicopters
Military operators
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*
FAPA/DAA
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Bangladesh Army
The Bangladesh Army is the land warfare branch and the largest component of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to provide necessary forces and capabilities to deliver the Bangladeshi government's security and defe ...
;
*
Bulgarian Navy
The Bulgarian Navy ( bg, Военноморски сили на Република България, Voennomorski sili na Republika Balgariya, lit=Naval Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria) is the navy of the Republic of Bulgaria and forms part of ...
;
*
Chilean Navy
The Chilean Navy ( es, Armada de Chile) is the naval warfare service branch of the Chilean Armed Forces. It is under the Ministry of National Defense. Its headquarters are at Edificio Armada de Chile, Valparaiso.
History
Origins and the War ...
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*
Colombian Navy
)
, colors=
, march= ''"Viva Colombia, soy marinero"''
, mascot=
, battles= Battle of Lake Maracaibo Thousand Days War (Civil war) Colombia-Peru War World War II Korean War Colombian Armed Conflict Operation Atalanta
, notable_commanders= José ...
;
*
Congolese Air Force
The Congolese Air Force (french: Force Aérienne Congolaise) is the air branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Congo, in the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville).
Former Cold War air force
After achieving independence from Fr ...
;
*
Force Aérienne de Côte d'Ivoire
;
*
Djibouti Air Force
The Djiboutian Air Force (DAF) (french: Forces Aériennes Djiboutiennes (FADD)), ( so, Ciidanka Cirka Jabuuti) is the Air Force of Djibouti. It was established as part of the Djibouti Armed Forces after the country obtained its independence on Ju ...
;
*
French Navy
The French Navy (french: Marine nationale, lit=National Navy), informally , is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the five military service branches of France. It is among the largest and most powerful naval forces in t ...
![Eurocopter AS365+( kf 8984)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Eurocopter_AS365%2B%28_kf_8984%29.jpg)
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*
Lithuanian Air Force
The Lithuanian Air Force or LAF ( lt, Lietuvos karinės oro pajėgos, abbreviated as ''LK KOP'') is the military aviation branch of the Lithuanian armed forces. It is formed from professional military servicemen and non-military personnel. Units ...
;
![Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter retouched](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Coast_Guard_MH-65_Dolphin_helicopter_retouched.jpg)
*
Myanmar Air Force
The Myanmar Air Force ( my, တပ်မတော် (လေ), ), known until 1989 as the Burmese Air Force, is the aerial branch of Myanmar's armed forces, the Tatmadaw. The primary mission of the Myanmar Air Force (MAF) since its inception h ...
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*
Nigerian Air Force
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is the air branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is the youngest branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
It is one of the largest in Africa, consisting of about 15,000 personnel and aircraft including eight Chinese ...
;
*
Royal Saudi Naval Forces
The Royal Saudi Navy ( ar, البَحْريَّة الْمَلكيَّة السُّعُودِيَّة, Al-Quwwat al-Bahriyah al-Arabiyah as-Su'udiyah) or Royal Saudi Naval Forces ( ar, القُوَّات البَحْريَّة الْمَلك ...
;
*
Army Air Corps Army Air Corps may refer to the following army aviation corps:
* Army Air Corps (United Kingdom), the army aviation element of the British Army
* Philippine Army Air Corps (1935–1941)
* United States Army Air Corps (1926–1942), or its p ...
;
*
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mu ...
(see
Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin
The Eurocopter MH-65 Dolphin is a twin-engined helicopter operated by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for medevac-capable search and rescue (SAR) and armed Airborne Use of Force missions. It is a variant of the French-built Eurocopter AS3 ...
)
;
*
Uruguayan Air Force
The Uruguayan Air Force ( es, Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya, abbreviated FAU) is the air service branch of the Armed Forces of Uruguay. Originally created as part of the National Army of Uruguay, the Air Force was established as a separate branch on Dec ...
;
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Vietnam Helicopter Corporation
Vietnam Helicopters (VNH), formally the Vietnam Helicopter Corporation (), also known by its military designation Corps 18 (), is a transportation business owned by the Vietnam Ministry of National Defense. It operates helicopters to transport car ...
*
Vietnam Navy
The Vietnam People's Navy (VPN; vi, Hải quân nhân dân Việt Nam), or the Naval Service (), also known as the Vietnamese People's Navy or simply Vietnam/Vietnamese Navy (), is the naval branch of the Vietnam People's Army and is responsi ...
Former operators
![Aerospatiale SA-365F Dauphin 2 Irish Air Corps](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Aerospatiale_SA-365F_Dauphin_2_Irish_Air_Corps.jpg)
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*
Fiji Air Wing
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Irish Air Corps
"Watchful and Loyal"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries =
, equipment =
, equipment_label =
, battles = ''see list of wars''
, decorations =
, battle_honours =
, battle_honours_label =
, fl ...
;
*
South African Air Force
"Through hardships to the stars"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries =
, equipment ...
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*
Sri Lanka Air Force
Aircraft on display
* SA365N Dauphin, F-WQAP, at
The Helicopter Museum
The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, England, is a museum featuring a collection of more than 80 helicopters and autogyros from around the world, both civilian and military. It is based at the southeastern corner of the fo ...
,
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare, also known simply as Weston, is a seaside town in North Somerset, England. It lies by the Bristol Channel south-west of Bristol between Worlebury Hill and Bleadon Hill. It includes the suburbs of Mead Vale, Milton, Oldmix ...
,
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
.
Accidents and notable incidents
On 2 July 1999, an AS365F operated by the Irish Air Corps hit a sand dune in thick fog in
Tramore
Tramore (; ) is a seaside town in County Waterford, on the southeast coast of Ireland. With humble origins as a small fishing village, the area saw rapid development upon the arrival of the railway from Waterford City in 1853. Initially, the ...
while returning from a successful mission off the Waterford coast. The four crew members were killed in the collision.
On 4 April 2015, an AS365 owned by Orion Corridor Sdn Bhd, crashed in
Semenyih
Semenyih is a town and a mukim in Hulu Langat District in southeastern Selangor, Malaysia along the Kajang–Seremban road. It is southeast of downtown Kuala Lumpur and southeast of Kajang.
Etymology
The meaning of the name of the town is un ...
near
Kajang, Malaysia
Kajang is a town in Hulu Langat District, Selangor, Malaysia. Kajang, along with much of Hulu Langat District, is governed by the Kajang Municipal Council. Kajang town is located on the eastern banks of the Langat River. It is surrounded by ...
. All six people on board, including the ex-ambassador of Malaysia to the US and Rompin MP,
Jamaluddin Jarjis, and others were killed. The helicopter was coming from a wedding party of the Malaysian Prime Minister's daughter.
Specifications (AS365 N3)
See also
References
Citations
Bibliography
* Chant, Chris. "A Compendium of Armaments and Military Hardware." ''Routledge'', 2014. .
*
*
*
*
* J. Mac, McClellan
''Day of the Dauphin. From France to you: Aerospatiale's Dauphine is the Prince of Helicopter.''Flying Magazine, September 1989. Vol. 116, No. 9. . pp. 76–80.
* McGowen, Stanley S. "Helicopters: An Illustrated History of Their Impact." ''ABC-CLIO'', 2005. .
* Kolodziej, Edward A. "Making and Marketing Arms: The French Experience and Its Implications for the International System." ''Princeton University Press'', 2014. .
*
External links
EurocopterChinese Z-9French Navy Dauphin during winch demonstration exercise
{{Eurocopter
Aérospatiale aircraft
Airbus Helicopters aircraft
Fantail helicopters
1970s French civil utility aircraft
1970s French military utility aircraft
1970s French helicopters
Twin-turbine helicopters
Aircraft first flown in 1975