Heli Expo 2008 report from first day EC-175
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Ec 175
HC:
16 seats yes, nice cabin if it stays that size, uses a small aisle for the rear row to exit. Baggage door is high but probably manageable. Engines, well American parent, but Canadian built, they speak French there too!
My real reason for the post was your comment on three bladed tail rotor. Do you have a concern? I though it was an interesting (design/concept) mockup. The blades have a quite a large cord and I would imagine three blades would be easier to balance or have less vibratory loads. And hopefully less, dare I say tail cracking issues. Would three produce less noise too?
I too have concerns on CG. Big engines, big tail, big baggage compartment and of course all the new avionics up front will be light.
And we too placed an order 10 +10.
16 seats yes, nice cabin if it stays that size, uses a small aisle for the rear row to exit. Baggage door is high but probably manageable. Engines, well American parent, but Canadian built, they speak French there too!
My real reason for the post was your comment on three bladed tail rotor. Do you have a concern? I though it was an interesting (design/concept) mockup. The blades have a quite a large cord and I would imagine three blades would be easier to balance or have less vibratory loads. And hopefully less, dare I say tail cracking issues. Would three produce less noise too?
I too have concerns on CG. Big engines, big tail, big baggage compartment and of course all the new avionics up front will be light.
And we too placed an order 10 +10.
Hi Dave
When I said "American" I was thinking of "from the continent of America" rather than from the USA. But as a non-native I stand to be corrected - does "American" imply "from the USA"?
Anyway, regarding the tail rotor I don't think that will be the final design and if it were, it just looks noisy to me. The aspect ratio (chord to length ratio) reminds me of a B214 main rotor blade - the B214 was surely the noisiest helicopter in terms of noise to weight ratio. And my gliding experience tells me that low aspect ratio blades are inefficient at high angles of attack - ie in the hover.
But there is certainly a hole in the product range, for EC and also for other manufacturers, so if they get the detail right, it has the potential to do very well.
HC
When I said "American" I was thinking of "from the continent of America" rather than from the USA. But as a non-native I stand to be corrected - does "American" imply "from the USA"?
Anyway, regarding the tail rotor I don't think that will be the final design and if it were, it just looks noisy to me. The aspect ratio (chord to length ratio) reminds me of a B214 main rotor blade - the B214 was surely the noisiest helicopter in terms of noise to weight ratio. And my gliding experience tells me that low aspect ratio blades are inefficient at high angles of attack - ie in the hover.
But there is certainly a hole in the product range, for EC and also for other manufacturers, so if they get the detail right, it has the potential to do very well.
HC
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3 Bladed Tail Rotor
The 3 bladed tail rotor is the same as the one fitted to the EC-665 Tiger. It works nicely for a 6.1 t helo (50 kts all round). I guess a proven design on a helo only marginally heavier at 7 t (and designed for a very different purpose) should work well.
Thread Starter
Chopper 2004, some of the details are not clear, can you possibly make those pictures any larger?
The EC-175 is definitely quite larger than the 139, just look at the floor height off the ground.
Those tail rotor blades do have a resemblance to the ones on the Tiger attack helicopter.
Love that EC-130.
I have great hopes on the X2 from Sikorsky, they are after all the only American helicopter manufacturer left with any engineering capability other than rehashing 50 year old airframe concepts.
The EC-175 is definitely quite larger than the 139, just look at the floor height off the ground.
Those tail rotor blades do have a resemblance to the ones on the Tiger attack helicopter.
Love that EC-130.
I have great hopes on the X2 from Sikorsky, they are after all the only American helicopter manufacturer left with any engineering capability other than rehashing 50 year old airframe concepts.
Didn't know ERA got a 225, looks swell in the paint and i like that 1H's glass panel, nice, cheers for sharing!
Heli-Expo: Eurocopter books commitments for 111 EC175s By Graham Warwick
Eurocopter has left Heli-Expo in Houston, Texas with letters of intent for 111 of its new EC175s, having opened the show by unveiling a full-scale mock-up of the 7t-class, 16-passenger helicopter.
The European manufacturer says 13 different customers signed letters of intent to buy the EC175 during the three days of the show. These included launch customers Bristow Group and VIH Aiation of Canada, both oil and gas operators.
Other commitments came from the UK's Bond, Denmark's Dancopter, France's Heli-Union, Era and Halvorson Group of the USA, India's Global Vectra, New Zealand's HNZ, Belgium's NHV and Pegaso of Mexico.
© Eurocopter
The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67E-powered EC175 is being developed jointly with China's Harbin Aviation Industry Group. First flight is scheduled for 2009, with European certification expected in 2011.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPPZfqTDDF0
Eurocopter has left Heli-Expo in Houston, Texas with letters of intent for 111 of its new EC175s, having opened the show by unveiling a full-scale mock-up of the 7t-class, 16-passenger helicopter.
The European manufacturer says 13 different customers signed letters of intent to buy the EC175 during the three days of the show. These included launch customers Bristow Group and VIH Aiation of Canada, both oil and gas operators.
Other commitments came from the UK's Bond, Denmark's Dancopter, France's Heli-Union, Era and Halvorson Group of the USA, India's Global Vectra, New Zealand's HNZ, Belgium's NHV and Pegaso of Mexico.
© Eurocopter
The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67E-powered EC175 is being developed jointly with China's Harbin Aviation Industry Group. First flight is scheduled for 2009, with European certification expected in 2011.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPPZfqTDDF0
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Ec 175
HC,
You are right, but we Americans like to think we are the only Americans, when the truth is the term does encompass our continental friends both North and South.
Interesting comments on the tail rotor, I remember someone mentioning to me while I was at Sikorsky that they could think of no helicopter that went to production with the same tail rotor and/or tail stabilizer/configuration that was original to the design concept.
Cheers,
Dave
You are right, but we Americans like to think we are the only Americans, when the truth is the term does encompass our continental friends both North and South.
Interesting comments on the tail rotor, I remember someone mentioning to me while I was at Sikorsky that they could think of no helicopter that went to production with the same tail rotor and/or tail stabilizer/configuration that was original to the design concept.
Cheers,
Dave
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Mac's in the UK are saying $10 million dollars for this heli eventhough they have been launched for $8 Million, does anyone have a contact company in the US where one may be able to order this heli
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EC have always had Euro pricing and USD pricing for the longest time it was cheaper to buy in Europe , with the sagging dollar the pendulum has swung the other way. If you want to fly under N reg in UK you may be OK to buy in USA and fly in Uk ( or other Easa country ) . If you want to transfer to UK register you may find EC less than co operative. But if the diff is 2 mill for sure is is worth looking into. Plus of course the ones for the US market will have reverse main rotor direction 
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So who was the source of your US 'base price'? No disrespect intended, but I think someone's screwing with you (either EC or Philly). No way would they price that bird at 8 mil base.
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It came from EC I couldnt believe it either and thats why we contacted Mac's in UK for the real price. I will keep you posted on what the outcome is and how much we end up paying as we are looking for a VIP fit out.
Thread Starter
More EC175 pics
Last edited by Senior Pilot; 4th Mar 2008 at 10:25. Reason: Photos too large: changed to links
Chief Bottle Washer
Chopper2004,
Thanks for the photos: could you resize them, as the current hosting is excessively large for most monitors. About 800 x 600 would be ideal
Thanks for the photos: could you resize them, as the current hosting is excessively large for most monitors. About 800 x 600 would be ideal
I'll get me coat......
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Gold Coast, Australia.
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A few of mine, apologies for the delay in posting them.
Mavericks EC130
Part of the Bell exibit
BA609
EC225
EC225 cockpit
Bell 429
Bell 429 tailrotor
EC175
UH1H Cockpit
AS350 Cockpit
Bell 206
Sikorsky X2
Even an R44 got the glass teatment
Mavericks EC130
Part of the Bell exibit
BA609
EC225
EC225 cockpit
Bell 429
Bell 429 tailrotor
EC175
UH1H Cockpit
AS350 Cockpit
Bell 206
Sikorsky X2
Even an R44 got the glass teatment
Last edited by Capt Hollywood; 3rd Mar 2008 at 22:34.
I'll get me coat......
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And a few more....
Sikorsky S92
S92 instrument panel
S92 tail rotor
Carson S61
AB139 Cockpit
Bell407
EC135 interior
Sikorsky S92
S92 instrument panel
S92 tail rotor
Carson S61
AB139 Cockpit
Bell407
EC135 interior
Last edited by Capt Hollywood; 3rd Mar 2008 at 22:39.
Nice pictures, but sometimes, when it comes to cockpit/cabin pictures it's not obvious, which helicopter it is, especially if someone wasn't personally at heli expo.
Arrakis
Arrakis
Last edited by ARRAKIS; 3rd Mar 2008 at 15:45.
