How the squirrel got it's name...

[anna12345]

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone could help me out and tell me why the squirrel/eurocopter was named squirrel? :p

Cheers,

Anna

[Senior Pilot]

Maybe you should ask on the Rotorheads forum?

[HarmoniousDragmaster]

AFAIK its a straight translation from the French original. Dunno why it was picked by Aerospatiale though.

[Lightning Mate]

Has it got anything to do with agility?

[1970s Spotter]

It's full of nuts perhaps?:)

[treadigraph]

McAplines used to import the UK examples to their base at Hayes near West DREYton... :) sorry...

[evansb]

Consider other French helicopter appellations; Lama, Gazelle, Puma, Alouette (Lark?), Dauphin (Dolphin), Frelon (Hornet), so Ecureuil (Squirrel) doesn't seem too unusual. Perhaps "Flying Squirrel" would have reduced speculation on the marketing decision. I've noticed most controllers and many pilots, if they identify it other than a "helicopter", call it generically, an "Astar". Curious.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r68/convair640/rocky2.jpg

[treadigraph]

As I recall the Ecureuil was marketed in the US as the Astar, certainly in the early days, I assume it still is?

[evansb]

Yes, still the Astar.

[Dan Winterland]

Because the adjective "Squirrely" has negative connations in the US. It means 'hard to control' I gather.

[India Four Two]

Because the adjective "Squirrely" has negative connations in the US.

And nobody would have been able to pronounce "Ecureuil".

"Say again helicopter type?"

[treadigraph]

I can't pronounce Ecureuil, I'm not even sure I can spell it!

Reminds me of an ATC exchange in the US after one of the first SOCATA TB-10's arrived from France. Another pilot listening to the discussion on pronunciation of the type name between TB-10 pilot and ATC interjected "so you say To-bah-go, he says To-bay-go, let's call the whole thing off".