First production Eurocopter EC175 makes first flight

                        
The maiden flight of the first production EC175 helicopter occurred last week at Eurocopter’s Marignane, France headquarters facility, with company pilot Augustin Dupuis at the controls.

“With this first production series aircraft now airborne, the EC175 helicopter is a reality, and Eurocopter is very pleased to bring this new product in its civil range to the market,” said Lutz Bertling, Eurocopter’s president & CEO. “This first flight is the occasion to confirm our objective – which was to develop, in cooperation with our industrial Chinese partner, AVIC – the safest and best medium-sized rotorcraft, which also is a leader in terms of competitiveness, power efficiency and comfort. Following the success of Eurocopter’s EC130 T2 and the EC145 T2, the EC175 is yet another example of our strategy to provide outstanding value to customers.”

Eurocopter announced enhanced performance figures. The helicopter now has a recommended cruise speed is 150 kts. – 10 kts. faster than the previous figure without affecting payload range – while the maximum cruise speed exceeds 165 kts.

Eurocopter has moved the EC175’s certification date, while not impacting the first deliveries, which are to begin in September 2013.

“Flying the EC175 is a fantastic experience,” concluded Eurocopter company pilot Augustin Dupuis. “The excellent avionics, power, speed and low vibrations levels make it a unique aircraft.”