COSTA RICA HELICOPTER - MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD 902

Units Based in Costa Rica:          1
The MD 902 Explorer is a NOTAR (No Tail Rotor) light twin engine utility helicopter. Was designed by McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems in the early 1990s, currently it is produced by MD Helicopters, Inc. There have been two models, the MD 900, and its successor, the MD 902.

MD902 Specifications:
Engine:                                2 x PW C PW207E 646 shp
Capacity:                             1 + 7
Range:                                 293 nm
Cruising Speed:                    130 Kts
Ceiling:                                19000 ft

Short History:

MD Explorer took off for the first time on December 18, 1992 in Mesa, Arizona. This new technology helicopter received type certification from FAA on December 21, 1994. This was one of the shortest certification periods registered for a new helicopter and was also the first passenger and utility FAA certified helicopter in over ten years.

The MD Explorer is the first commercial helicopter techniques fully designed using computer design techniques and only after a detailed market survey of over 177 operators asking them what they wanted for a new utility helicopter in flight terms of capacity and overall design of a 1800 to 3600 kg helicopter.

The Explorer has been built largely of composite materials and is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW 206A turboshafts and has a maximum gross weight of 2950 kg. The MD902 can lift 1150kg of internal weight  and 1350kg of external weight  and weighs only 1350kg empty . The helicopter incorporates a number of new technologies to improve safety and performance and reducing operating costs. Include the NOTAR yaw control system bearingless main rotor with five blades.

COSTA RICA HELICOPTER – BELL 407

Units Based in Costa Rica:          1
The Bell 407 is a light single engine helicopter and it was the long time expected successor to its Jetranger and Longranger light single engine units.

Bell 407 Specifications:
Engine:                                1 X Allison 250C47
Capacity:                             1 +5
Range:                                 330 nm
Cruising Speed:                    130 Kts
Ceiling:                                18,600 ft

Short History:

The work for the development of the Bell 407 helicopter dates back to 1993. The final result was an evolutionary development of the Bell 206 Longranger. The prototype of the Bell 407A helicopter was based on a modified 206L3 LongRanger and it made it's first flight as a prototype on April 21 of 1994, while the public presentation of the Bell 407 was made in January Of 1995 in the HeliExpo of Las Vegas.

The first flight of the Bell 407 helicopter pre-production model was in June Of 1995 and the first flight a production model was in November Of 1995. Deliveries to clients began on February Of 1996.

Compared with the Longranger, The Bell 407 helicopter characteristic features are the Four Blade Main Rotor, developed for the OH58, made of composite and their blades and hub have no life limits. Some of the benefits ff The Four Blades Main Rotor are a better performance and a more comfortable flight.

Another important change on the Longranger is a 18cm (8 In) wider cabin, that increases the width and interior space, besides of 35 % bigger cabin windows. Engine is a more powerful Allison 250C47 Turboshaft, fitted with FADEC, allowing an increase in the maximum takeoff weight and a best performance in high temperatures and high altitudes. The tail boom of the Bell 407 helicopter is made of Carbofibre Composite.

COSTA RICA HELICOPTER - EUROCOPTER EC130 B4

Units Based in Costa Rica:          1
The Eurocopter EC130 is a single engine light helicopter developed from the AS350 Ecureuil airframe.

EC130 B4 Specifications:
Engine:                                1 X Turbomeca Arriel 2
Capacity:                             1 +6
Range:                                 329 nm
Cruising Speed:                    130 Kts
Ceiling:                                15,655 ft

Short History:

The EC130 is a wide body variant of the AS350 B3 and was first flown on 24 June 1999 by Australian test pilot, Steven Page. The EC130 features an enclosed tail fan rather than the traditional tail rotor found on the older AS350. This Fenestron has unevenly spaced blades which has the advantage of reducing outside noise by 50% compared to a tail rotor. The EC130 was designed in close cooperation with tour operators and features a spacious cockpit with excellent external visibility, capable of accommodating six tourists.

The EC130 is also quickly becoming popular within the air medical services (AMS) community, due to its large cabin (capable of accommodating one or two stretchers), wide side door and enclosed Fenestron anti-torque device.

COSTA RICA HELICOPTER – EUROCOPTER AS350 B3

Units Based in Costa Rica:          1
The Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil is a single engine light helicopter originally manufactured by Aérospatiale in France (now part of Eurocopter Group). The AS350 is marketed in North America as the AStar. The AS350 B3 helicopter is the first ever to land on Mount Everest.

AS350 B3 Specifications:
Engine:                                1 X Turbomeca Arriel 2
Capacity:                             1 +5
Range:                                 360 nm
Cruising Speed:                    130 Kts
Ceiling:                                15,100 ft

Short History:

The most successful civil helicopter in Europe, the Ecureuil (Squirrel ) is in extensive worldwide use of civil and military missions.

Development of the Aerospatiale AS 350 Ecureuil culminated in early 1970 with the first flights of the Avco Lycoming LTS -101 powered prototype on June 27, 1974 and with the Turbomeca Arriel powered prototype the February 14, 1975 . These were followed by eight helicopters preproduction examples, the first of which flew in late 1977.

Customer deliveries began in April 1978. Initial models offered were the Arriel powered AS- 350B, which is marketed outside North America, and the LTS -101 powered AS- 350C sold in the U.S.as the AStar . The AS- 350C was soon replaced by the D, with a more powerful engine.

In January 1992, the helicopter division of Aerospatiale joined Eurocopter.

COSTA RICA HELICOPTER – BELL 206 JETRANGER III

Units Based in Costa Rica:          3
The Bell 206B Jetranger III is a two bladed, single engine helicopter, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec, Canada plant. With a configuration of four passengers plus pilot, the Bell 206 Jetranger has become the light turbine powered corporate and utility helicopter of the past three decades.

Bell 206B Jetranger III Specifications:
Engine:                                1 X Rolls Royce 250 C20B
Capacity:                             1 +4
Range:                                 240 nm
Cruising Speed:                     110 Kts
Ceiling:                                13,500 ft

Short History:

This helicopter was originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the light observation program of the United States Army and the 206 failed to be selected. After redesigning the airframe, Bell successfully marketed the aircraft commercially as the four passengers plus pilot Bell 206A Jetranger. This new design was eventually selected by the Army as the OH-58 Kiowa.

January 10, 1966 is the date when the first Bell 206A flew, and the helicopter was revealed later that month at the Helicopter Association of America (HAA) convention. The Jetranger received full certification by the Federal Aviation Administration on October 20, 1966. Delivery to costumers of the Bell 206 Jetranger began on January 13, 1967.

The basic design and shape of the Jetranger remained unchanged since 1967. Bell introduced the 206B Jetranger II in 1971 and the 206B Jetranger III was introduced with its modified tail rotor and more powerful engine in 1977.

COSTA RICA HELICOPTER - ROBINSON R66

Units Based in Costa Rica:          2
The Robinson R66 is a single engine, two blade light helicopter designed and built by the Robinson Helicopter Company. It has a four passenger plus pilot configuration and a separate cargo compartment and is powered by a Rolls-Royce RR300 turboshaft.

Robinson R66 Specifications:
Engine:                                1 × Rolls-Royce RR300
Capacity:                             1 +4
Range:                                 325 nm
Cruising Speed:                    120 Kts
Ceiling:                                14,000 ft

Short History:

The R66 was announced in 2007, to be the first turbine-powered helicopter of the company and to extend the product variety range to compete with larger helicopter manufacturers as Bell Helicopter and Eurocopter. Most of the R66 design is based on the earlier R44 piston-engine helicopter.

The company flight-tested two prototypes and the new engine. The aircraft was submitted to the FAA and the type certificate was awarded on 25 October 2010.

Robinson Helicopter Company started taking R66 orders in February 2010. The Robinson R66 went into preliminary production in 2010, and full production in 2011.