EC135 & AB139

[Frank]

Hi Guys,

Feel free to post pictures and information on the two new helicopter types for the Air Corps, the EC135 & AB139.

We all know about the EC135 but it wouldn't do any harm to refresh our memories.


Pictures:

Agusta Bell AB139 pictures

AB139 Military Version mock up

Eurocopter EC135 pictures


Information & Specs

Official Eurocopter EC135 information page

Official Agusta Bell AB139 information page


Regards,

Frank.

[Head]

Pictures of the AB139

Link to AB139 video

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[sealion]

Lotsof EC135 photos

[IAS]

A question:

Is it certain that the IAC will be going for the military variant of the AB139 seeing as they are going for the civil EC135 as opposed to the military EC635? I see AW mention "Law Enforcement" and "SAR" variants on their site, are we sure these are not what's on the way?

IAS

[FiannaFail]

Great news and super additions to the fleet!!  Following the PC-9Ms and the Lear Jet, things are looking more up around here.
Personally I think there were the best choice and hopefully added to in time! (like the orginial 3 AIIIs were added to in the 1970s bringing the fleet up to .
FiannaFail '>

[Stinger]

Don't suppose anybody could alter a picture to show what the new helos would look like in an Irish paint scheme

[sealion]

http://212.158.133.3/hwa/antony_morgan/ab139(uscg)/index.htm

[Imshi-Yallah]

Looks pitifully small

[futurepilot]

Quote (Imshi-Yallah @ 03 Dec. 2004,13:32)

Looks pitifully small

I take it you`ve never been in the back of a Dauphin before then. Its a huge improvment on what we have now.

[Imshi-Yallah]

I have actually, a .303 is a huge improvement on a brown bess doesnt mean we should be happy that we're getting them in the year 2005.

[IAS]

I-Y, I don't think your comparison is fair, the ab139 is an ultra modern machine, maybe even too new (especially when you see all that "glass" in the cockpit)! While I think a number of us would have preferred the Blackhawk, the 139 is not a bad 2nd best (far better than the 145 and probably better than the S-76).

Remember it comes from two/three companies with great traditions in military helicopters - Bell and AgustaWestland and one would imagine it will turn out to be a very robust machine.

It appears to be able to take 8 fully equipped troops easily, is fast and has adequate range.

My main concern is that it will be used a VIP machine, though hopefully the 135s can be used in that role.

IAS

[Imshi-Yallah]

There is no way in hell eight fully equipped troops will get into that,  it will be a squeaze in belt order, kind of defeats the point.
IF these were ever to be used operationally by anyone other than the ARW they'd have the same use as the british battlefield Lynx, two per section.

[IAS]

Well just looking at the published cabin volumes:

ab139     8 cu metres         8-15 pax +crew
ec145     5.5 cu metres      8-9 pax + crew
uh-60     11.22 cu metres   12-20 pax+crew
panther   5.1 cu metres      10 pax + crew

All above exclude luggage area.

The ab139, on paper anyway, seems to have the volume to take 8, 1 cu metre per pax compared to the b/hawk 0.935 cu metre per pax and the ec145 0.6875 cu metre per pax, but I suppose we should wait and see when the military version actually flies.

IAS

[sealion]

I see on IMO a link to the law enforcment model,which has 10 seats back to back on the centreline of the cabin. It seats 15 passengers(ie not troops) but in the Military/Law enforcment role would seat 10 in the above configuration,with your section of 8 as requested,plus 2 door gunners seated at the window behind the pilots.

AB139 Brochure(.pdf)

[Frank]

Hi Guys,

Can you all please keep this thread as an information thread only.

Please feel free to start up another thread to discuss the new helicopters.


Thanks in advance,

Frank.