Part 4: to Yangon, Bangkok, Hanoi, attempting Macau
After landing, you refuel. It will not only be easier to start early the next day, but it will also lower the condensation in the fuel tank.
Refueling in Yangon
ready for take-off
The aircraft is manned with 3 crew members: a pilot, co-pilot, and a flight engineer. The flight engineer is usually not necessary, but regarding the duration of the journey, his presence is comforting.
EC225, view of the cockpit
Nice landscape
Landing by night in Da Nang
Filing the flight plan to Macau
Top of clouds
Unfortunately, the visa was not ready to permit the entrance into the Chinese airspace. The aircraft then had to fly back and spend the night in Macau…
Part 5: from Da Nang (Vietnam) to Macau (China)
Da Nang to Macau
The last leg, from Da Nang to Macau
final landing in Macau
so much smoke for this trip!
More smoke on all the rear fuselage
removing the internal auxiliary fuel tank
H225, rear door open
clean-up before delivery
delivery to COHC after the 7510 NM journey
After a 15-day journey covering a distance of 13908 km (7510 nautical miles) in a total flight time of 66 hours, this EC225, the fourth in a series of seven ordered in 2011, was delivered on time to its Chinese customer.
July 07th, 2015. Airbus Helicopters presents its brand new prototype of a modified H135, featuring extremely low noise in flight. A reduction of no less than 10 EPNdB (perceived noise), corresponding to a reduction by 90 percent of the noise of a standard H135 helicopter. (More information on icao.int, wikipedia.org/EPNdB, or wikipedia.org/Loudness. To refresh your logarithmic knowledge on the dB, check this.)
The aircraft displays an unusual shape to those familiar with the product family: T-tail horizontal stabilizer, new rotor blades…
The blades are already known from the H160 and the Bluecopter Dauphin. They result from a research programs in cooperation with the french ONERA and the german DLR. The tail rotor blades are shaped as waves and result in a barely noticeable noise in flight. Only the Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 PLUS turbine is left with what seems to be a normal installation. Now, the noise emission of the engines feels very loud compared to the dramatic improvement of the blades!
During cruise flight, Airbus claims to shut off one engine, reducing the consumption and the carbon dioxyde emissions. Of course, safety measures may ensure rapid power-up in case of need, if not urgency.
With this display, Airbus Helicopters sets a new standard of low noise emissions for the helicopter industry.
Bluecopter between the green grass and the blue sky
The green and blue paint has obviously been inspired by the Bavarian country. While awaiting for the flight show, blue skies and green grass were present. With QNH 1013 and more than 30°C at 1300 ft terrain altitude, ISA+15°C was easily demonstrated.
The aircraft is actually not brand new. The structure is the first prototype (S001) of the EC135 T, which first flew in 1994. The fuselage can be noticed on this early photo.
die grüne Hexe, the green witch
Maybe you will have noticed the small drawing on the pilot door: what is this cartoon? The green witch, die grüne Hexe in German, was probably inspired by the callsign D-HEEX. Does it go further and compare to the Greenwich meridian? Does she want to set a new reference?
Looking carefully at the vertical tail fin, you will notice a rudder. Is it the same tail fin rudder as the H160?
Bluecopter, preparing the flight
The particular shape of the clam shell doors, designed to reduced drag
the tip of a blade
Air intake of the Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 PLUS
The T-tail horizontal stabilizer of the Bluecopter, made by Airbus Helicopters
