Eurocopter / Aerospatiale AS 355 Ecureuil 2 / AS 555 Fennec
Light Utility Helicopter
Photo ©: Karsten Palt
The Aérospatiale AS 355 Ecureuil 2 is a twin-engine six- to seven-seat light utility helicopter produced by the French manufacturer Aerospatiale, today Eurocopter. AS 355 in military duty are designated AS 555 Fennec.
The AS 355 Ecureuil 2 is a twin-engined development of the Aérospatiale AS 350 EcureuilAérospatiale AS 350 Ecureuil. Earlier AS 355 were marketed in the North-American market as Twin Star. The AS 355 is also produced under license by Helibras (today a subsidiary of Eurocopter) in Brazil.
| Crew | 1 | |
| Passengers | 5-6 | |
| Propulsion | 2 Turboshaft Engines | |
| Engine Model | Turbomeca Arrius 1A | |
| Engine Power (each) | 340 kW | 456 shp |
| max. Cruise Speed | 222 km/h | 120 kts 138 mph |
| max. Speed (vne) | 278 km/h | 150 kts 173 mph |
| Service Ceiling | 6.096 m | 20.000 ft |
| Rate of climb | 395 m/min | 1296 ft/min |
| Range | 700 km | 378 NM 435 mi. |
| Empty Weight | 1.382 kg | 3.047 lbs |
| max. Takeoff Weight | 2.600 kg | 5.732 lbs |
| Rotor Blades (main/tail) | 3/2 | |
| Main Rotor Diameter | 10,69 m | 35 ft 1 in |
| Tail Rotor Diameter | 1,96 m | 6 ft 5 in |
| Rotor Disc Area | 89,8 m² | 967 ft² |
| Length (Fuselage) | 10,93 m | 35 ft 10 in |
| Length | 12,94 m | 42 ft 5 in |
| Height | 3,34 m | 10 ft 11 in |
| First Flight | 28.09.1979 | |
| Production Status | in production | |
| ICAO Code | AS55 | |
| FAA TCDS | H11EU | |
| EASA TCDS | A.146 | |
| Data for (Version) | Eurocopter AS 555N Fennec | |
| Variants | AS355 E, AS355 F, AS355 F1, AS355 F2, AS355 M, AS355 M2, AS355 N, AS355 NP, HB355F, HB.355N, AS555 AF, AS555 AN, AS555 AR, AS555 MN, AS555 MR, AS555 SN, AS555 SR, AS555 UN, AS555 U | |