MBB/Kawasaki BK 117
BK 117 | |
---|---|
A BK 117 of the German police | |
Role | Utility/transport |
National origin | Germany/Japan |
Manufacturer | Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB)/Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
First flight | 13 June 1979 |
Introduction | 9 December 1982 |
Status | in production, in active service |
Primary users | DRF ADAC |
Produced | 1979–present |
Developed into | Eurocopter EC145 |
The MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 is a twin-engined light
On 25 February 1977, MBB and Kawasaki signed a cooperative agreement to abandon their independent efforts to design twin-engined general purpose helicopters in favour of a collaborative venture to development of a new rotorcraft for that role. While the programme's costs were shared equally, the workshare was divided into certain areas of the design. MBB utilised their expertise with the rigid rotor system used on the earlier Bo 105 to develop the majority of the dynamic systems and flight controls, while Kawasaki focused on the airframe, structural elements, and various other components. On 13 June 1979, MBB's flying prototype conducted its maiden flight at Ottobrunn, Bavaria, Germany; months later, it was followed by the Kawasaki prototype at Gifu, Chūbu region, Japan on 10 August 1979.
Each company established their own final assembly line, producing the BK 117 for their respective regions. The BK 117 has proven to be popular for passenger services and VIP-transport, the cabin can be outfitted with various seating configurations, seating between seven and ten passengers. It is also used for a diverse range of operations, such as
Development
Origins
According to aviation author J. Mac. McCellan, the BK 117 has its origins in an earlier rotorcraft designed and produced by
On 25 February 1977, MBB and Kawasaki signed an agreement to cooperate on the development of a new rotorcraft. Under the terms of this agreement, the two corporations merged their previously separate projects to produce twin-engined general purpose helicopters, these being the Bo 107 by MBB and the KH-7 from Kawasaki.[4] All of the privately incurred development costs were shared equally between the two partners; in November 1977, the programme received a huge boost when the government of West Germany announced that it would fund half of the costs of development.[5] By April 1978, project definition studies had been completed, enabling the joint venture to proceed with the detail design phase of development.[5]
Separate elements of the design were assigned to each company; MBB were responsible for developing the
Originally, each company intended to construct a pair of prototypes (in actuality, Kawasaki opted to only build a single prototype) which were to be completed by 1979; one for flight testing purposes and the others for tie down testing and static testing. On 13 June 1979, MBB's flying prototype conducted its maiden flight at Ottobrunn, Bavaria, Germany; months later, it was followed by the Kawasaki prototype at Gifu, Chūbu region, Japan on 10 August 1979.[6][5] The pace of development on the programme had been slower than expected, a problem that was exacerbated by a shortage of skilled manpower that was available at MBB. Although it was originally planned for the rotorcraft's airworthiness certification to be achieved before the end of 1980, German certification was not achieved until 9 December 1982, being quickly followed by the receipt of Japanese certification on 17 December 1982. On 29 March 1983, the type secured the all-important United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification, clearing it for widespread use.[7][5]
Further development
During 1983, the initial production version, designated as the BK 117A-1 was first delivered.
At one stage, there was considerable attention paid to the concept of a dedicated militarised variant of the type.
During the 1990s, as a result of the commercial success of the type, a refined derivative, initially marketed as the BK 117 C-2 prior to its rebranding as the
Since exiting production, third parties have produced their own upgrade programmes for existing BK 117s. In 2010, Airwork launched its conversion programme for the type, replacing the original LTS101-750B-1 engine with the newer LTS101-850B-2 engine, increasing both its performance, reliability and safety margins, resulting in the BK117-850D2; by 2016, Airwork had upgraded nearly 50 rotorcraft in this manner.[9]
Design
The MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 is a twin-engined medium
Early versions of the BK 117 were powered by a pair of Lycoming LTS101 turboshaft engines, rated to generate 550 shp at takeoff with considerable reserve power to guard against a single engine failure.[3] While each engine possesses sufficient power to maintain flight and even takeoff in the event of a single engine being rendered inoperable, the type also has favourable autorotation capabilities. In order to extend their operational lifespan and increase their reliability, MBB tuned the engines to operate at lower-than-standard revolutions per minute (RPM).[11] The engines are regulated using a specialised control system which smoothly and evenly regulate RPM and torque between both engines, even during vigorous manoeuvers.[3] Power management has been greatly eased via the addition of an automatic engine-governor system, allowing pilots to simply monitor the torque and engine temperature gauges. The aircraft can be suitably equipped for flight under instrument flight rules (IFR) as well as for single-pilot operations.[3]
According to aviation publication
Operational history
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2017) |
A single BK 117 A-3 (c/n 7106) was leased by the
A BK117 helicopter contracted by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service to fight fires crashed on 17 August 2018, the pilot died in the crash.[14]
Variants
- BK 117 P-2 (D-HBKA)
- German prototype, first flown 13 June 1979. Now exhibited at the Bückeburg helicopter museum, Bückeburg, Germany.
- BK 117 S-01 (D-HDRF)
- Initial pre-production prototype. Now preserved on top of the DRF-Headquarters at Stuttgart Airport.
- BK 117 P-3/P-5 (JQ0003)
- Japanese prototype, first flown 10 August 1979. Now exhibited at Kakamigahara Aerospace Museum, Kakamigahara/Gifu, Japan
- BK 117 A-1
- Powered by two Lycoming LTS 101-650B-1 engines. First flown 23 April 1982.
- BK 117 A-3
- Introduced in March 1985, the A-3 has a larger tail rotor with improved blades, Yaw CSAS, improved stability (SPAS) and the take-off weight increased to 3,200 kg (7,055 lb).- The Canadian Armed forces leased a single BK 117-A3 for a test program and designated it the CH-143. When the program was over, the aircraft was returned to MBB Canada[15]
- BK 117 A-4
- Introduced in July 1986, the A-4 has increased transmission limits at take-off power, improved tail rotor head. German aircraft have provision for extra internal fuel, giving enhanced performance.
- BK 117 A-3M
- Military version introduced in 1986. The A-3M is fitted with taller skids and can carry 11 troops. A Browning 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine gun can be mounted under the fuselage in a Lucas turret with 450 rounds and controlled by a helmet-mounted sight. The A-3M also has outrigger pylons which can hold up to eight HOT II or TOW antitank missiles or a variety of air-to-air missiles, rocket-pods, or forward-firing cannons. Provisions for a doorway gunner's position with a 12.7 mm (0.5 in) gun can also be installed.
- BK 117 B-1
- Introduced in December 1987, the B-1 is fitted with LTS 101-750B-1 engines to provide increased performance, and a 140 kg (309 lb) increase in payload.
- BK 117 B-1C
- UK-certified version with reduced range and endurance.
- BK 117 B-2
- Maximum Gross Weight increased to 3,350 kg, 2 x Allied Signal Lycoming LTS101-750B-1 engines fitted as standard, new tail rotor blades, improved "hot and high" performance, take-off/landing limitation increased to 15,000 ft, improved flight performance for: HIGE/HOGE, single engine service ceiling.
- BK 117 C-1
- Powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 1E engines. Later models may be upgraded to Arriel 1E2 engines.
- NBK 117
- License-built model produced in Indonesia by Indonesian Aerospace.[16]
- BK 117-850D2
- Introduced in 2010, the 850D2 variant is an STC (Supplementary Type Certificate) development (i.e., re-engined) of BK 117 B-2 incorporating Honeywell LTS 101-850B-2 engines aimed at improving OEI and Category A performance.[17] Development and certification was conducted in New Zealand by Airwork of Ardmore, NZ, in conjunction with Flight Structures Ltd.[18]
NOTE: All later models are derived from the BK 117 by Eurocopter Deutschland and later Airbus Helicopters.
The models BK 117-C2, -D2 and -D3 are therefore better known under their commercial naming convention EC145 and H145. Nevertheless, all models share the same EASA Type Certificate (see EASA Type Certificate Data Sheet).[19]
Operators
Military and government
- Fire and Rescue NSW[20](formerly)
- New South Wales Rural Fire Service
- New South Wales Police Force[20]
- Western Australia Police[21]
- Colombian National Armada[22]
- Bundeswehr[25][failed verification]
- Polizei[26]
- Hellenic Fire Service - Operates three BK-117C1s.[27]
- Prefectural police departments[28]
- Peruvian National Police[30]
- Guardia Civil[32]
- Riverside County Sheriff's Department (California)[34]
Civil
The majority of the helicopters are operated by various emergency services although it is also operated by private individuals, companies and executive charter operators.
- CareFlight[35]
- Westpac Life Saver Rescue Service[36]
- Everett Aviation[42]
- Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust[43]
- Life Flight (New Zealand)[44]
- Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust[45]
- Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust[46]
- Rega (air rescue) : 7 H145 since 2018, replacing the EC145
- Daily Air Corporation[47]
- Si Chang Flying Services[48]
Former
- Canadian Forces Air Command[15]
Specifications (BK 117 B-2)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–94[56]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: up to 10 passengers
- Length: 9.91 m (32 ft 6 in) (fuselage length)
- Height: 3.85 m (12 ft 8 in) (rotors turning)
- Empty weight: 1,727 kg (3,807 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,350 kg (7,385 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 697 L (183 US Gallons, 153 Imp Gallons) internal fuel
- Powerplant: 2 × Textron Lycoming LTS 101-750B-1 turboshaft, 442 kW (593 hp) each
- Main rotor diameter: 11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
- Main rotor area: 95.03 m2 (1,022.9 sq ft)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 250 km/h (160 mph, 130 kn) at sea level
- Never exceed speed: 278 km/h (173 mph, 150 kn)
- Range: 541 km (336 mi, 292 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 4,575 m (15,010 ft) (max certified altitude)
- Hover Ceiling: 3,565 m (11,700 ft) (in ground effect)
- Rate of climb: 11.00 m/s (2,165 ft/min)
See also
- Helicopter
- Air ambulance
Related development
References
Citations
- ^ McCellan 1986, p. 64.
- ^ McCellan 1986, pp. 64, 66.
- ^ a b c d e f g h McCellan 1986, p. 66.
- ^ Air International April 1989, p. 163.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "The Market for Light Military Rotorcraft." Archived 21 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine Forecast International, November 2010.
- ^ a b Air International April 1989, p. 164.
- ^ Air International April 1989, pp. 164–165.
- ^ Eriksson 2013, p. 153.
- Aviation Week, 12 September 2016.
- ^ McCellan 1986, p. 62, 64.
- ^ a b c d McCellan 1986, pp. 66–67.
- ^ McCellan 1986, p. 67.
- ^ "MBB CH-143 BK 117". Royal Canadian Air Force. Archived from the original on 10 September 2005. Retrieved 25 March 2007.
- ^ Khalil, Shireen (17 August 2018). "nsw act Pilot of Rural Fire Service helicopter dies after crash". news.com.au. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- ^ a b "BK 117 CH-143". canadianwings.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ The Emerging Technological Trajectory of the Pacific Rim by Denis Fred Simon, page 193.
- ^ "Honeywell Announces LTS101-850B-2 Engine Upgrade for Eurocopter BK117." Archived 12 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Honeywell, 22 February 2009.
- ^ "Airwork (NZ)’s BK117-850D2 takes to the skies over Australia and New Zealand." Archived 7 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine Flight Structures Ltd, 1 May 2010.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b "FireAir 1". fire.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 25 April 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
- ^ "WA Police Air Wing". stepforward.wa.gov.au. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ a b c "World Air Forces 2013" (PDF). Flightglobal Insight. 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "(MBB BK 117) Carabineros de Chile". Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "Kawasaki BK-117B-1". Demand media. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "H145M LUH SOF". www.luftwaffe.de (in German). Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ^ "Einsatzfahrzeug: D-HNWQ (c/n: 7554)". © Ebner Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. Archived from the original on 16 October 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ Scharenborg 2022, p. 70
- ^ Saitama Prefectural Police (ed.). "航空隊の紹介". Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ISSN 0306-5634.
- ^ "Base Aérea Lima-Callao Policia Nacional del Peru". cavok-aviation. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ Mlandenov Air International December 2016, pp. 85–86.
- ^ "Spanish Guardia Civil". aeroflight.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "South African Police Service signs for its 7th Eurocopter AS 350 B3 at AAD 2004". Eurocopter. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "County of Riverside Sheriff Aircraft Registration". FlightAware. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ^ "Careflight: Our Helicopters". careflight.org. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ "lifesaver Fleet". lifesaver.org.au. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "STARS fleet". stars.ca. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "Équipage et flotte". Helico Secours coopérative de solidarité. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ "ADAC Air Rescue confirms the choice of Eurocopter to renew its helicopter fleet with the EC145 T2 and EC135". eurocopter.com. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "BK-117C". Demand media. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "DRF Luftrettung BK 117". Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "Everatt's BK 117 C1". everettaviation.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (fleet)". rescuehelicopter.org.nz. Archived from the original on 25 March 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "Westpac Rescue Helicopter". lifeflight.org.nz. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ "Learn more about our Canterbury Westpac Rescue Helicopter". airrescue.co.nz. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ "Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust (fleet)". otagorescue.co.nz. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
- ^ "Daily Air Operations" (PDF). dailyair.com.tw. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "MBB-Kawasaki BK-117B-1 - Si Chang Flying Service - SFS".
- ^ "airmethods fleet". airmethods.com. Archived from the original on 12 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "KidsFlight 1". stlouischildrens.org. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "ORMC Aircare 1". Orlando Health. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ "World Air Forces 1991 pg. 37". flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ^ "World Air Forces 1991 pg. 41". flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ^ "World Air Forces 1991 pg. 65". flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ^ "World Air Forces 1991 pg. 71". flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ^ Lambert 1993, pp. 159–160.
Bibliography
- "BK 117...a Terrestrial Space Ship". ISSN 0306-5634. pp. 163–170.
- Eriksson, Sören. "Clusters and Economic Growth in Asia." Edward Elgar Publishing, 2013. ISBN 0-85793-009-5.
- Hatch, Paul. "World's Air Forces". Flight International, 5–11 December 1990. pp. 35–81.
- Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". ISSN 0015-3710.
- Lambert, Mark. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–94. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN 0-7106-1066-1.
- McCellan, J. Mac. "Paramedic." ISSN 0015-4806.
- Mlandenov, Alexander. "Russia's Responders". Air International, Vol. 91, No. 6, December 2016. pp. 78–87. ISSN 0306-5634.
- Prétat, Samuel. "EC 145 & UH-72." Éditions Minimonde76, 2015. ISBN 9-782954-18181-3. (in French)
- Scharenborg, Martin. "Fighting the fires". Air International, Vol. 103 No. 2, September 2022. pp. 68–72. ISSN 0306-5634.