Ecureuil : le plus vendu des hélicoptères Airbus

The Ecureuil is Airbus's best-selling helicopter worldwide. This family of light helicopters was developed by Aérospatiale in the early 1970s, then produced by Eurocopter, and now by Airbus. Designed to succeed the Alouette II, it made its first flight in 1974 and entered service two years later. The Ecureuil is equipped with a three-bladed rotor. It is currently available in two civilian versions: the H125 and the H130. The latter is distinguished by its Fenestron, a fairing around the tail rotor. The Ecureuil also exists in a military version, the Fennec (H125M). Today, these helicopters are only offered in a single-engine configuration, as the twin-engine version is no longer manufactured by Airbus. The Ecureuil is powered by an Arriel engine. With a capacity of 6 to 7 passengers, this helicopter boasts a speed of 250 km/h and a range of 600 km. Highly maneuverable and versatile, it can be deployed for attack or surveillance missions, personnel or sling load transport, firefighting, medical evacuation, and much more. The Ecureuil helicopters are manufactured in France, Brazil, and the United States. Like all Airbus aircraft, the list price has not been published since 2019. To date, more than 7,000 Ecureuil helicopters have been delivered.