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"Eurocopter applies innovation every day
in expanding the boundaries of flight, and the
X3 is an excellent example of how we are preparing
for the future," said Lutz Bertling, Eurocopter
president and chief executive.
Three additional EC135 helicopters are to be supplied
to the French Gendarmerie and Eurocopter will
continue its support services for this police
force’s current 12 EC135s through an extension
of the company’s existing contract. "Eurocopter
is dedicated to ensuring the French Gendarmerie
– and other police forces around the world
– obtain the highest reliability, optimum
operational performance and best service with
our helicopters," said Dominique Maudet,
Eurocopter Executive Vice President Global Business
& Services.
EC175, jointly developed with the Chinese was
displayed and it was one of two aircraft in the
flight test and development programme. Eurocopter
expects certification in the second half of 2011
with first delivery in 2012.
Eurocopter held a day-long celebration at the
Paris Air Show to mark the Ecureuil helicopter
family’s nearly four decades of operational
excellence. "We are honoring a helicopter
family that has truly earned its reputation as
an all-around performer during a career that spans
nearly 40 years and which literally has taken
it to the highest summits," said Lutz Bertling.
The Ecureuil family is produced in multiple single-
and twin-engine variants the AS350 B2 and B3e,
EC130, AS355 NP and AS550 C3e. All of them share
the same family features – excellent performance,
high reliability, multi-mission capability, and
innovative design.
As Daniel Leimbacher, Chief of French "Groupement
Central des Forces Aériennes de la Gendarmerie"
said, « the capability to transmit images
of the ground observed from the EC 135 is of paramount
interest, as recently shown during the G8 summit,
during which 4 EC 135 have logged more than 100
flying hours to protect the area"
Eurocopter also signed a cooperation contract
related to the supply of 12 EC725 helicopters,
to be operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force
in search and rescue (SAR) and utility missions,
with the Malaysian Ministry of Defence.
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