• Mission

Main description

A high-performance workhorse with hot and high capabilities.
The high-performance variant of the AS350 Ecureuil (Squirrel/AStar) series, the single-engine B3 outclasses all other 6 seat helicopters for power, flexibility, safety and low acquisition and maintenance costs. The AS350 B3 is made to measure for hot conditions and very high altitudes. In fact, a standard production model recently made history by landing on Mount Everest!

A state-of-the-art workhorse

The AS350 B3 has so many proven technologies,
it practically knows what you need to accomplish before you do. The Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) automates the start-up sequence and optimises engine performance to suit outside conditions. Result? Improved reliability, lower fuel consumption and reduced maintenance. The ergonomic cockpit features a 3-axis auto-pilot and dual LCD-screen Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD). All these technologies go a long way to reducing pilot fatigue and enhancing safety. The use of composite materials for airframe, rotors and main rotor head combine to give the AS350 B3 the best protection against corrosion and, consequently, reduce the maintenance costs.

The VEMD gathers all the conventional
electromechanical instruments for vehicle and engine control on two five-inch (12.7 cm) LCD screens. It provides several display modes: engine-starting sequence, normal flight operation, flight report and maintenance mode.

The VEMD considerably reduces the flight crew's workload and improves safety, as the pilot can concentrate better on his mission. It also improves maintenance thanks to the automation of such functions as recording flight duration, number of NG and NF cycles exceeding limitations. All limit-value overshoots are detected and recorded. They cannot be erased by the pilot.

The AS350 B3 is powered by a single Turbomeca Arriel 2B 1 engine of 847 shp (632 kW). The Arriel family of engines has over 15 million flight hours of experience. The B3's engine is the fruit of that accumulated know-how.

The engine is equipped with a dual channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) (and a third back-up control system) that greatly simplifies engine handling. In addition, it ensures power plant monitoring, providing it with the correct fuel, air and ignition ratios required for optimum performance with minimum fuel expenditure to suit any given exterior conditions.

With the new optional dual hydraulic system and structural reinforcements (same kit), the B3 can take off at 2,370 kg, allowing an increased payload of around 95kg.