EC135 questions

[Shamrock145]

Hi All

just looking for some clarification on the EC135 'fleet'

According to the pictures section of this site, the 'green' EC135's are P2's (which would imply twin PW 206B2 engines) while the GASU 135's are T2's (twin Turbomeca Arrius engines although 256 is previously listed as a T1).

So my questions are;

a) Are the GASU machines twin engine (and if so was 256 previously a single engine and upgraded)
b) Is there a difference in engine type between the 'green' and GASU machines and if so, why? And if there is no engine difference in the fleet, are they P&W or TA powered?

...145

[Irish251]

I was informed by someone who should know that 256 had been upgraded to T2 status some time back.

[sealion]

256 was originally a T1. Its ENGINES(2 of) were upgraded to T2 standard. It always had 2 engines. That model does not come in single engine form.

The GASU 135s are powered by Turbomeca. The Air Corps "Green" ones are P&W powered. All are two engined.

[Shamrock145]

Thanks guys!

...145

[Buran]

i believe that the reason they have different engines is as follows:

the green 135s were bought as pure aer chor aircraft to be maintained by the aer chor. So the decision on engine type was probably to fit in with an existing P&W contract for the PT6s throughout the rest of the fleet.

The Garda 135s were to be operated by the aer chor, with garda personnel in the back, but maintained by mcalpine. This makes sense given the amount of police surveillance equipment onboard that the aer chor would have no prior experience with. So mcalpine probably chose Turbomeca engines to fit in with their existing fleet and contracts.

Now there was an "i believe..." at the start of that so corrections are welcome.