New EC135 for Irish Lights

[bolkow]

Heard a rumour the two bolkows are to be replaced with their own in house machine and that they are thinking about an EC135.
Anyone else heard anything, such as dates, planned colour scheme? Anything?????

[500 Fan]

Yea, EC135 ordered and due for delivery this year, sometime. Don't know if its a T2 or P2 ordered. It probably will be the death knell for the BO-105 in Ireland. Irish Helicopters Ltd will operate it on behalf of Irish Lights. They (Irish Lights) reckon they need the machine for approx 600 hours per annum. Irish Helicopters will probably have additional work for it as well. No word on the colour scheme but hopefully it will be as attractive as the current BO-105 scheme. After the Alouette III, the BO-105 is probably the longest serving type still operational in Ireland so it'll be sad to see these little workers go as well.

[500 Fan]

Here is a link to a photo of this new helicopter, Eurocopter EC135 T2+ EI-ILS, that will be used on Lighthouse Support Operations here in Ireland. I believe it will directly replace the BO-105CBS EI-LIT currently in use. Not sure if the other BO, EI-BLD, will be retained for the next while or not. The EC135 officially starts work for the Commissioners of Irish Lights on the 1st of December 2008.

Photo of Eurocopter EC135T2, EI-ILS, Irish Helicopters (http://www.worldairpics.com/photo/1029002/L/Eurocopter-EC135/EI-ILS/Irish-Helicopters/?&sid=&sp)

Can anyone outline the differences between an EC135T2 and the T2+ version? Is it just an upgrade in avionics or are more powerful engines fitted as well? Thanks.

500 Fan.

[Deeko01]

Ahh darn, it should be in burgundy!

[206Fan]

Nice machine indeed..

[skadi]

Can anyone outline the differences between an EC135T2 and the T2+ version? Is it just an upgrade in avionics or are more powerful engines fitted as well? Thanks.



Engines are the same, AEO max TQ 78/82% instead of 75/80%, MTOW 2910 instead of 2835 kg. NR is automatically changing at 55 KIAS instead of manually pushing the CAT A Button.

skadi

[500 Fan]

Skadi, thanks for the info.

Apparently, Irish Helicopters Ltd have been serving the Commissioners of Irish Lights for 39 years now. They started with the Alouette III (EI-ATO and EI-AVI), then a host of BO-105s (EI-AWB, EI-BDI, EI-BLD, EI-BTE and EI-LIT) and now this EC135. I have been doing some research into the past IHL fleet and apparently a Hiller UH-12 was trialled by the Commissioner of Irish Lights in 1959. The CIL people didn't think much of the Killer-Hiller and didn't enter into a contract. That Hiller was registered to a company called Irish Helicopters and was sold in 1960. No other helicopter was registered to IHL again until 1968 (on the Irish Register, at least), so I'm not sure if the people behind the Hiller were the same people that started ops in '68. In 1966, the Shannon-based company Trans World Helicopters also did some work for the CIL, with a float-equipped Hughes 300.

Irish Helicopters Ltd is also celebrating 40 years of operations this year, so well done, Lads.:D

500 Fan (Heli-Anorak).

[nodrama]

What's that fitted to front/ bottom of the tailboom? ADELT?

[HeliEng]

nodrama,

Yes, I believe you are correct. It is an ADELT. :ok:

[eurocopter beans]

I see its got a weather radar, will it be operated SPIFR?

[gazelleboy]

I saw today for the first time the new EC135 ... so silent ... having grown up with the sound of the bolkow every week as a child i will indeed miss the sound of it.what happens to that bolkow now? does anybody know?

[ShyTorque]

I saw today for the first time the new EC135 ... so silent

Silent? Just wait till they start it up though.

[gazelleboy]

it flew past me today at approx 200ft about to land....and i just thought it was a lot quieter than the bolkow....do you know what will happen to the bolkow?

[gazelleboy]

just found the answer.... Irish Lights new EC135 (http://www.flyinginirelandmagazine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3606)

[500 Fan]

Here are a few photos of EI-ILS.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn274/Bolkow1/IMG_0624.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn274/Bolkow1/IMG_0638.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn274/Bolkow1/IMG_0634.jpg
Chunky-looking rear view mirror.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn274/Bolkow1/IMG_0652.jpg
Underside of tailboom with various refinements.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn274/Bolkow1/IMG_0687.jpg
All four skid legs have these tie-down points.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn274/Bolkow1/IMG_0701.jpg
The fuselage underside is well tricked-out as well. Also of interest are the protective guards on the small aerial and ice detectors (at least that's what I think they are).

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn274/Bolkow1/IMG_0699.jpg
The cockpit. This heli is SPIFR, I'm told, but I'm sure someone can confirm it from this photo. All looks very confusing when you're used to flying Robbies!

It looks like a well-equipped helicopter for both lighthouse support work and the other duties it will be put to by Irish Helicopters. I know they are very pleased with this machine and are looking forward to exploiting the capabilities of this helicopter. As regards the BO-105s, there are no immediate plans to dispose of either of them just yet. Thanks to Ian and Alan at Irish Helicopters for the opportunity to take these photos.

500 Fan.

[206Fan]

Thanks for posting them 500, very nice..:ok:

Regarding the 407, A109E and the AS350 in the hanger, do they own them aswel??

[500 Fan]

Davy, I didn't pay any attention to the other helicopters in the hangar, to be honest. The AS350 is definetly an IHL machine but I think the 407 and 109 are privately-owned machines being maintained by Irish Helicopters. I didn't note the registrations or take any photos of them.

500 Fan.

[nodrama]

500fan,

Not ice detectors, but sensing probes (TAT) for Air Data Unit. The guards are a good idea, seen quite a few un-guarded ones knocked off during aircraft washing.

[bolkow]

500 fan, that Hiller was sold to a Mr Ken Besson I believe and had been owned by the US ambassodor to Ireland (name?) who was selling his personal hiller as he returned to the states. I recall seeing it in Rosslare when I was a wee lad, I believe it was in a blue colour scheme. If I recall correclt Ken Besson if I have his first name right formed Irish Helicopters with that hiller but I am open to correction on that. I also seem to remember that the oil crisis put him out of the picture and Aer Lingus took over Irish Helicopters as a subsidiary for a number of years.

[500 Fan]

Hi Bolkow.

The UH-12, EI-AKT, was registered to a company called "Irish Helicopters" who were based in Shannon in the late fifties. The guys at IHL tell me that that was a completely different company to the current "Irish Helicopters Ltd" which first started operations in 1968 in Dublin. Another source has also confirmed this. Irish Helicopters Ltd operated a green and white Fairchild-Hiler FH1100, EI-ART, that was leased to them from a company called "Bandwagon Ltd". I don't know who they were but, at a guess, might have been something to do with a showband, who were popular in Ireland at the time. Thanks.

500 Fan.

Edit: Just found this photo of EI-ART.

Photos: Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/Fairchild-Hiller-FH-1100/0441231/L/&sid=fbe7ef79cfc0c44e2af9d6d2afab40cd)

[bolkow]

well it certainly was not EI-ART that I saw. The hiller i saw did not have all of that cowling covering in the back. It was all open. In fact they used sanbags on the the machine just sitting on the back and the pilot I remember said he'd lost one into the water as he came dopwn the coast from dublin to rosslare. I do remember he was en-route to cardiff. I know that sounds incredible but I can remeber flying offshore to the lighthouse on occasions in their alouette EI-AUI, also a single and no floats or life vests!