PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - AS 350 - what to look out for when buying
Old 9th Aug 2012, 11:49
  #23 (permalink)  
victor papa
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: foot of a mountain
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Have you looked at a 130? Get one with Squirrel cheeks and you have 6 pax + luggage. There are a few good second hand ones available with the T2 coming out soon. You have a litter stretcher for the 130 for which you just remove the 3rd front seat and it clamps onto the rear support and seat rails. Maintenance is less than a 350 due the fenestron(1000hrs) and dual hydraulics. 150hr/1 yr instead of 100hr and then 600hr is your Basic inspection. Max internal is 2427 so you score 180kgs. Do not believe the under powered stories as ours operate hot and high EMS with longgg legs to do and we have not recorded a overlimit so yes she likes the yellow caution range when hot and high and heavy but red we havent seen and we have not missed a mission.

Engine is on 600hr inspection only except for the 30hr/50hr power chk(flick a switch on collective) and mag plug chk or something like that. Dual FADEC nothing to stuff up by plt system. There is a difference in performance over the years although the graphs remained the same, but our 2002 model do what the new ones do just a bit more yellow range and no problem.

For tourist and a bit of everything I do not think anything comes close to the 130 and your neighbours will love you for not waking the island up when you fly as you will have the quietest heli around. The 130's price range is very competitive secondhand so maybe just have a look? Engineers should not be an issue, I know of 1 or 2 in your country with 130 lic and experience and afterall she is a 350 with a fenestron
victor papa is offline