Eurocopter MH-65 Dolphin
MH-65 Dolphin | |
---|---|
A MH-65E of the United States Coast Guard | |
Role | Search and rescue helicopter |
National origin | France/United States |
Manufacturer | Aérospatiale Helicopter Corporation American Eurocopter
|
First flight | 1980 |
Introduction | 1985 |
Status | In service |
Primary user | United States Coast Guard |
Number built | 102 |
Developed from | Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin |
The Eurocopter MH-65 Dolphin is a twin-engined
Development
The SA366 G1 Dauphin version was selected by the United States Coast Guard in 1979 as its new short range recovery (SRR) air-sea rescue helicopter, replacing the
The Dolphin was manufactured by Aerospatiale Helicopter Corporation (later
The HH-65 Dolphin is used for homeland security patrols,
In order to comply with U.S. regulations relating to local content (based primarily on the value of individual components of the aircraft), engineering changes were required—notably, the SA365's original
In 1994, the USCG therefore held a fast-track competition to select a new engine, and in March 2004 the Guard announced the selection of the
Design
The HH-65A's minimum equipment requirements exceeded anything previously packaged into a helicopter weighing less than 10,000 pounds (4,535 kg). Seventy-five percent of the HH-65's structure—including rotorhead, rotor blades and fuselage—consists of corrosion-resistant composite materials.
Also a unique feature of the Dolphin is its computerized flight management system, which integrates state-of-the-art communications and navigation equipment. This system provides automatic flight control. At the pilot's direction, the system will bring the aircraft to a stable hover 50 feet (15 m) above a selected object. This is an important safety feature in darkness or inclement weather. Selected search patterns can be flown automatically, freeing the pilot and copilot to concentrate on sighting & searching the object.[1]
A distinctive feature of the MH-65 is its fenestron ducted-fan anti-torque device. The fenestron consists of 11 blades spinning inside a circular housing at the base of the helicopter's tail fin.
Certified for single-pilot instrument flight rules (IFR) operation, the HH-65A was the first helicopter certified with a four-axis autopilot, allowing for hands-off hover over a pre-determined location.
Operational history
The Dolphin is primarily a Short Range Recovery (SRR) aircraft. There are now a total of 102 Dolphins in the Coast Guard Fleet. The fleet has home ports in 17 cities on the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, and the Great Lakes region.[1]
The Dolphin is usually deployed from shore but it can be deployed from medium and high endurance
When deployed from an icebreaker, the helicopter acts as the ship's eyes, searching out thinner and more navigable ice channels. They also have the job of airlifting supplies to villages isolated by winter, or transporting scientists to conduct remote research.[1]
The MH-65 is also used to patrol the
Israeli Air Force service
In the early 1980s, the
Variants
- HH-65A
- Initial USCG version, powered by two 734 shp (547 kW) LTS101-750B-2turboshaft engines and with an 8,900 lb (4,000 kg) MTOW.
- HH-65B
- Avionics upgrade undertaken on a portion of the fleet. Retrofit included an NVG-compatible integrated flight management avionics suite consisting of two GPS-embedded CDU-900G control display units and two MFD-255 multifunction flat panel displays. The HH-65B upgrade was undertaken at the Coast Guard's Aircraft Repair and Supply Center (ARSC) in Elizabeth City, NC, with the first aircraft rolling-off the post-depot maintenance (PDM) line in March 2001.
- HH-65C
- HH-65A/B upgraded with new 934 shp (696 kW) Arriel 2C2-CG engines that provide 40% more power and higher performance, plus an upgraded tail gearbox, long-nose avionics compartment, increased 9,480 lb (4,300 kg) MTOW, expanded lateral flight envelope and Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD) with First Limit Indicator (FLI). First retrofit completed in October 2004.
- MH-65C
- Initially intended only for use by the Multi-Mission Cutter Helicopter (MCH), a further enhancement of the HH-65C within the USCG's M240G 7.62 mm machine gun. The helicopter can also be used for counter terrorism.[3]
- MH-65D
- MH-65C with an upgraded flight navigation system common to Department of Defense helicopters.[4] The first production MH-65D was completed on 20 January 2011 and is fitted with a Honeywell HG7502 radar altimeter, two Honeywell H-764G EGI's (embedded GPS/inertial navigation systems) and two control display units CDU-7000D from Rockwell Collins. 97 HH/MH-65Cs will be upgraded to MH-65D standard.[5]
- MH-65E
- The MH-65E will incorporate upgrades that will modernize the cockpit by installing digital “glass” cockpit instruments, known as the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) from Collins Aerospace, similar to those installed in the Coast Guard's upgraded MH-60T Jayhawk Medium Range Recovery (MRR) helicopters. The Echo upgrade will also replace the legacy analog automatic flight control with a digital system, and installing a digital weather radar system. The MH-65E model is expected to begin to be delivered to the fleet in 2017.[6]
Operators
- Israeli Air Force[2]
- 124 Squadron (Israel) – Palmachim Airbase (initial assignment)
- 193 Squadron (Israel) – Ramat David Airbase or Palmachim Airbase
- United States Coast Guard[7]
- CGAS Atlantic City[8]
- Coast Guard ATC[9]
- CGAS Barbers Point[10]
- CGAS Corpus Christi[11]
- CGAS Detroit[12]
- CGAS Houston[13]
- CGAS Humboldt Bay[14]
- CGAS Kodiak[15]
- CGAS Miami[16]
- CGAS North Bend[17]
- CGAS Port Angeles[18]
- CGAS San Francisco[19]
- CGAS Savannah[20]
- Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron[21]
Specifications (MH-65C)
Data from United States Coast Guard[22]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 pilots and 2 crew
- Length: 11.6 m (38 ft 1 in)
- Height: 4 m (13 ft 1 in)
- Empty weight: 3,128 kg (6,896 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 4,300 kg (9,480 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Arriel 2C2-CGturboshaft engines, 636 kW (853 hp) each
- Main rotor diameter: 11.9 m (39 ft 1 in)
- Main rotor area: 111.22 m2 (1,197.2 sq ft)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 330 km/h (210 mph, 180 kn)
- Cruise speed: 240 km/h (150 mph, 130 kn)
- Range: 658 km (409 mi, 355 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 5,486 m (17,999 ft)
Armament
- Guns:
- 1 x 7.62 mm M240 machine gun
- 1 x Barrett M1070.50 in (12.70 mm) caliber precision rifle
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
- ^ a b c d e HH-65A Dolphin Archived 10 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine, GlobalSecurity.org, accessed 1 October 2007
- ^ ISBN 1-85780-088-5. Archivedfrom the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
- ^ "Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron" (PDF). USCG.mil. USCG. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
- ^ [1] USCG Acquisition Directorate: Multi-Mission Cutter Helicopter
- ^ Airforces Monthly, April 2011
- ^ "Coast Guard Common" Archived 13 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine Avionics Today. Retrieved: 13 September 2014.
- ^ "Significant Dates in Coast Guard Aviation" (PDF). uscg.mil. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ "AIR STATION ATLANTIC CITY". uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ "Coast Guard Aviation Training Center". uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ "Air Station Barbers Point". uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ "Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas". uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 29 December 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ "Coast Guard Air Station Detroit". uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 5 March 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ "Coast Guard Air Station Houston". uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ "Group/Air Station Humboldt Bay". uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 29 March 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ "Air Station Kodiak". uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 27 February 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ "Coast Guard Air Station Miami". uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ "Air Station North Bend". uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 27 February 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ "History of the Coast Guard in Port Angeles". uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ "CG Air Station San Francisco". uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 30 May 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ "Coast Guard Air Station Savannah". globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ "(HITRON) Jacksonville". uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 28 February 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ "USCG Multi-Mission Cutter Helicopter". United States Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 10 January 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2009.