The Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil ( or Squirrel), now Airbus Helicopters H125, is a single-engine light utility helicopter originally designed and manufactured in France by Aérospatiale and Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters). In North America, the AS350 is marketed as the AStar. The AS355 Ecureuil 2 is a twin-engine variant, marketed in North America as the TwinStar. The Eurocopter EC130 is a derivative of the AS350 airframe and is considered by the manufacturer to be part of the Écureuil single-engine family.

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 5 pax 4, 5, & 6 passengers options available. The 6 passenger configuration replaces the single passenger forward seat with a two-person bench seat
  • Length: 10.93 m (35 ft 10 in) (fuselage)
  • Height: 3.145 m (10 ft 4 in)
  • Empty weight: 1,174 kg (2,588 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,250 kg (4,960 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Turbomeca Arriel 2B turboshaft engine, 632 kW (848 hp)
  • Main rotor diameter: 10.7 m (35 ft 1 in)
  • Main rotor area: 89.75 m2 (966.1 sq ft)

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 245 km/h (152 mph, 132 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 287 km/h (178 mph, 155 kn)
  • Range: 662 km (411 mi, 357 nmi)
  • Endurance: 4 hours 6 minutes
  • Service ceiling: 4,600 m (15,100 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 8.5 m/s (1,670 ft/min)