FRANCO-GERMAN MANUFACTURER Eurocopter is to display the third pre-production EC.135 powered by Turbom‚ca Arrius 2B turboshafts at the forthcoming Heli-Expo '95 show in Las Vegas. Eurocopter has flown the type for more than 150h, achieving a service ceiling of 20,000ft (6,100m), cruising at up to 140kt (260km/h), diving at 160kt, and sustaining +2.3g loads. Altitude testing has been carried out at Zugspitze Mountain near Garmisch, achieving a hover out of ground-effect at 9,700ft. The type is expected to win European Joint Aviation Regulations Part 27 certification by the end of this year, with US certification to follow soon after.
Source: Flight International
