AS 350 - what to look out for when buying
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Join Date: Jun 2012
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Excellent thanks Nuthin ....Wasn't aware of the availability of a flush kit ..great advice.
What anti corrosion sprays do most people use? Also for an AS 350 is there such a thing as protective tapes that can be placed on leading edge of blades and tail rotors. There has been some success with these on R44's I understand ; albeit Robinson aren't endorsing them.
What anti corrosion sprays do most people use? Also for an AS 350 is there such a thing as protective tapes that can be placed on leading edge of blades and tail rotors. There has been some success with these on R44's I understand ; albeit Robinson aren't endorsing them.
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Cheers ...never seen the baggage pods on a Squirrel.... very handy to know. I flew a 44 with them mounted and found them very handy. Thanks for info on the models ..makes it so much easier to digest all the model numbers when seen on that format. Starting to get a feel from all the reading now that Lycoming engines are the way to go .seems the comments echoed in here reflect the reading I've been doing over the past few days.
You'd prob know the answer to this ..presume you flew for Island Hoppers in Fiji ...We used one of their AS350's to medevac a customer off the island ..they flew out with a stretcher in situ laying beside the pilot on the floor. Is much of a mod required for the fitting of the stretcher and are purpose built seats required to replace the factory seats in order to get them out in a timely manner to fit the stretcher or do operators simply unbolt the existing seats?
You'd prob know the answer to this ..presume you flew for Island Hoppers in Fiji ...We used one of their AS350's to medevac a customer off the island ..they flew out with a stretcher in situ laying beside the pilot on the floor. Is much of a mod required for the fitting of the stretcher and are purpose built seats required to replace the factory seats in order to get them out in a timely manner to fit the stretcher or do operators simply unbolt the existing seats?
Join Date: Jun 2007
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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
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
No special seats required. One of the Squirrels features is that all the seats come out relatively easily for configuration changes. You sit on the structure in a Bell 206 (series)
To be certified, you would need a “stretcher kit” and matching stretcher.
There are many options – all ridiculously priced, I’m sure.
Probably plenty for sale SH, as the world moves on from EMS Squirrels.
The two LH rear seats are usually removed – sometimes replaced with very short seats for the Medic/DR to sit at the patients head.
I believe one of the Island Hopper kits was manufactured and “certified” locally.
I flew many Medevacs in Fiji – Latoka Hospital (House of Death). Suava “Don’t land on the roof, because ‘something’ might happen” Hospital.
Good luck.
Watch the rapidly changing weather. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that some rain is too heavy to fly through.
To be certified, you would need a “stretcher kit” and matching stretcher.
There are many options – all ridiculously priced, I’m sure.
Probably plenty for sale SH, as the world moves on from EMS Squirrels.
The two LH rear seats are usually removed – sometimes replaced with very short seats for the Medic/DR to sit at the patients head.
I believe one of the Island Hopper kits was manufactured and “certified” locally.
I flew many Medevacs in Fiji – Latoka Hospital (House of Death). Suava “Don’t land on the roof, because ‘something’ might happen” Hospital.
Good luck.
Watch the rapidly changing weather. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that some rain is too heavy to fly through.
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Blade tape will probably come off in a tropical downpour and you will lose a little lift. The stainless leading edge will suffice I think. The R44 we had in BC lost its blade tape after a week of BC rain.
The R44 has paint on the leading along with ADs regarding corrosion along the D spar hence the blade tape to keep the paint in place.
Many Fatstars (130s) out there and they are indeed an underrated utility ship. You wont have the fenestrons altitude issues in Fiji. AC is a bonus and lots of room for stetchers, baggage etc.
Once again though, easy to buy, not so easy to sell,
A badly tracked 130 is an experience.
The R44 has paint on the leading along with ADs regarding corrosion along the D spar hence the blade tape to keep the paint in place.
Many Fatstars (130s) out there and they are indeed an underrated utility ship. You wont have the fenestrons altitude issues in Fiji. AC is a bonus and lots of room for stetchers, baggage etc.
Once again though, easy to buy, not so easy to sell,
A badly tracked 130 is an experience.
tape
That lights normal!,
love your observation
so very true.
AS vs BH, dealers choice, both have their strengths. Better yet, much cheaper to walk or swim.
R44 tape/rain? question, only approved system is unlikely to be taken out in rain if it was fitted with any competency. Don't like it, just know the physics.
Separately, we just entered the market for out cVG-EPS to be fitted within AUST for all BHTI/EC/AS/H369 types that have current OEM authority for blade tape. We also just finished a test series flown by a customer in the UK, on the H369C, which mirrored the effect of the cVG system on the B206BIII tested independently last year.
my choice? just picked up a 350F2 so I guess I am biassed, but then it is just a test hack, personally I love the 500 to fly. Pax can fly airline...
cheers,
FDR
love your observation
so very true.AS vs BH, dealers choice, both have their strengths. Better yet, much cheaper to walk or swim.
R44 tape/rain? question, only approved system is unlikely to be taken out in rain if it was fitted with any competency. Don't like it, just know the physics.
Separately, we just entered the market for out cVG-EPS to be fitted within AUST for all BHTI/EC/AS/H369 types that have current OEM authority for blade tape. We also just finished a test series flown by a customer in the UK, on the H369C, which mirrored the effect of the cVG system on the B206BIII tested independently last year.
my choice? just picked up a 350F2 so I guess I am biassed, but then it is just a test hack, personally I love the 500 to fly. Pax can fly airline...
cheers,
FDR
