Eurocopter Group
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Eurocopter S.A.S. | |
 |
|
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Marignane, France |
| Key people | Lutz Bertling |
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Products | Helicopters |
| Revenue | €3,211 million EUR |
| Employees | 13,000 |
| Parent | EADS |
| Website | www.eurocopter.com |
The Eurocopter Group is a global helicopter manufacturing and support company formed in 1992 from the merger of the helicopter divisions of French Aérospatiale and German DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (DASA).
In 2001, Eurocopter's worldwide and American market share were 40% and 30% respectively. On May 14, 2005, a Eurocopter Ecureuil production helicopter flew to the summit of Mount Everest and performed a hover landing, setting a world record for highest take-off [1] [2].
As a consequence of the merger of the Eurocopter Group's former parents, the firm is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS.
[edit] Products
Eurocopter manufactures or has manufactured the following types of helicopters:
- MBB/Kawasaki BK117 (with Kawasaki Heavy Industries)
- Eurocopter EC 135
- Eurocopter EC 145
- Eurocopter EC 155
- Eurocopter Colibri (EC 120 B) (with Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation)
- Eurocopter Cougar
- Eurocopter Dauphin
- Eurocopter Ecureuil
- Eurocopter Fennec
- Eurocopter Panther
- Eurocopter Super Puma
- Eurocopter Tiger
Due to its 62.5%-share, Eurocopter also participates on the production of the NH90 Utility Helicopter Project. On some of Eurocopter's aircraft the main rotor turns clockwise when viewed from above, unlike most American rotorcraft. This requires the pilot to make pedal movements that are the opposite to those learned if previous flying has been on an American aircraft. On models developed in Germany or with their input (BK 117, EC 145, Bo 105, et cetera) this is not the case. Eurocopter also pioneered the use of the "fenestron", an enclosed tail-rotor, which is more efficient and safer than the exposed version.
[edit] Gallery
 Bk-117 |
 EC-135 |
 EC-145 |
 Colibri |
 Cougar |
 Fennec |
 Panther |
 Tiger |
Timeline of aviation
Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines
Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft
Notable military accidents and incidents · Notable airline accidents and incidents · Famous aviation-related deaths
Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft
