AS-365 Dauphin 2 below $1M

[Agile]

Interesting to see some AS-365 coming close to 1 million on the used market,


1983 EUROCOPTER AS-365 Dauphin 2 Helicopter for Sale at FlightPlanet.com


or


1986 EUROCOPTER SA 365N Turbine Helicopters For Sale At Controller.com


I would assume the market price would be closer to 5M for an aircraft this type.


Anybody has an idea of the catch? why it does not make sense for the owners to bring back these aircraft into their normal average price?.
(by doing whatever maintenance and overhaul action required)

[212man]

Your assumption would be wrong then. Do you really think a 30 year old Dauphin is worth 5 million? You can get an EC155 for about 3 million....

[Agile]

Yes you are right about the 30 years old factor, as I can hardly envision the complications that come with that, I just think that is a lot of aircraft for the price of a used EC120.


Imagine, you have the Twin capability at true IFR aircraft, 11 seats... and a look that is not too outdated.


Operationally it does not make sense, hypothetically it is attractive.

[Ian Corrigible]

'Course, if you really want bang for the buck, how about a Gulfstream GIV (2014 sticker price >$40M) for the price of a Cessna Mustang? 1989 example going for $3.2M here.







I/C

[terminus mos]

S-76 A+ can be had for $500k if you negotiate hard

[krypton_john]

But if you can afford to fly it and keep it flying, you can probably afford to spend more for something a little newer and less maintenance intensive.

[SuperF]

I think it is like cars, If you cant afford to buy them new, then odds are that you can't afford to run/maintain them when they get old.

[Rabina]

AS365 prices

The issue with legacy Dauphins is the need to re certify calendar timed dynamic components such as the main and tail gearboxes, rotor heads and other items that only Aitbus Helicopters have repair capabilities for. For the operators flying high hours and therefore billing out high hours, those costs can be calculated into their flying rates. For the other 75% (my approximation), getting the dynamic parts checked out can now often exceed the hull value. Hence fairly low sales prices for used airframes.

For all intents and purposes, the Dauphin remains a great helicopter which is still selling despite a very low production rate. Parts are not an issue, but the main loss of ground that AH have had in not re-engineering the Dauphin about 10 years ago, or putting PT6s in the EC155 is that AW have taken pretty much all of the mid cabin size helicopter sales away with the 139 whilst AH just talked about their new X4. Let's see what HAI in 2015 brings.

[Agile]

thanks for educated answer


There is a whole complex valuation subject around legacy aircrafts.
that have apparent value without operational value. (S76 mentioned too)


unless of course you use them in a completely different application,
ie: buy them for a type rating flying school (but then again nobody needs a rating for a dauphin anymore) only flying a few hours a month (thinking just looking for a way where it would make sense)

[Rabina]

Dauphins

You get a great helicopter in the Dauphin which can compete with the new players in the air, but it's systems are old (3 axis electro-mecahncical autopilot) and many of the oil and SAR clients are now dictating that more modern helicopters are offered which give better extended range over water or have solid state avionics. There are only a few major operators that still have their fleets based on the 365 and many law enforcement or medical evac departments have moved on to newer designs.

Like I wrote, check back when AH reveal their all new designed X4 next spring.