Canadian Warplanes 7: MBB CH-143 Eurocopter, BK 117A-3D

MBB CH-143, Kawasaki BK 117

(DND Photo)

MBB CH-143 (Serial No. 143106), Reg. No.D-HBCA.

MBB CH-143 (Serial No. 143106), c/n 7106, BK117-3AD, registered as D-HBCA.

The CAF leased MBB CH-143 (Serial No. 143106), c/n 7106, BK117-3AD, registered as D-HBCA for initial production tests at Fort Erie. Registered as C-FIOM in 1990, used as demonstrator and training aircraft by MBB Canada. Still used this registration for initial tests of modifications at MBB Canada Ltd., Fort Erie, by company flight crew and Honeywell Canada test engineers. Carried Honeywell supplied nav system, and USAF supplied test equipment, in MBB Canada designed and fabricated pallets. Leased to CAF for tests of integrated nav system for NSA (New Shipborne Aircraft). Operated by CF pilots from the Aerospace Engineering and Test Establishment at CFB Cold Lake, and USAF test technicians, over land at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, and off the coast at Vandenberg AFB, California. Returned to MBB Canada Limited after lease, upgraded to BK 117-A4D by 1992. To Alc Airlift Corporation of Pitt Meadows, BC in 1993 (on lease?). To Stars Aviation of Calgary, in EMS configuration, from 1993. Latest Certificate of Registration issued on 4 June 2002. First Flight First flight in NSA testbed configuration, as C-FIOM, at Fort Erie, Ontario. (CWHM)

(swmolnar Photo)

BK117 Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society Air Ambulance, C-GDGP, at Foothills Medical Centre, 2005.

The MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 is a twin-engined medium utility–transport helicopter. It was jointly developed and manufactured by Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (MBB) of Germany and Kawasaki of Japan. MBB was later purchased by Daimler-Benz and eventually became a part of Eurocopter, which was later rebranded as Airbus Helicopters.

On 25 February 1977, MBB and Kawasaki signed a cooperative agreement to abandon their independent efforts to design twin-engined general purpose helicopters in favour of a collaborative venture to development of a new rotorcraft for that role. While the programme's costs were shared equally, the workshare was divided into certain areas of the design. MBB utilised their expertise with the rigid rotor system used on the earlier Bo 105 to develop the majority of the dynamic systems and flight controls, while Kawasaki focused on the airframe, structural elements, and various other components. On 13 June 1979, MBB's flying prototype conducted its maiden flight at Ottobrunn, Bavaria, Germany; months later, it was followed by the Kawasaki prototype at Gifu, Chūbu region, Japan on 10 August 1979.

Each company established their own final assembly line, producing the BK 117 for their respective regions. The BK 117 has proven to be popular for passenger services and VIP-transport, the cabin can be outfitted with various seating configurations, seating between seven and ten passengers. It is also used for a diverse range of operations, such as aerial crane and sling work, law enforcement, and military transport, and is exceptional as an air ambulance and search and rescue platform. During the 1990s, due to its popularity, a refined derivative, initially marketed as the BK 117 C-2 before being rebranded as the EC 145 and later as the H145, was developed from the BK 117 C-1 version; this improved version of the rotorcraft has since succeeded the original BK 117 in production. (Wikipedia)