Aircraft overview

The Airbus Helicopters AS355 Ecureuil 2 is the twin engine member of the Ecureuil family, developed by Aérospatiale and later produced under Eurocopter and Airbus Helicopters branding. The AS355 first flew in 1979, with deliveries beginning in the early 1980s and production continuing in evolved forms into the mid 2010s. It is a light twin utility helicopter used for corporate transport, law enforcement, electronic news gathering, aerial survey, utility work and light offshore or over water operations. Its importance in the used market comes from combining the compact footprint and broad support base of the AS350 lineage with the redundancy and regulatory flexibility of two engines.

Performance & specifications

Performance depends on variant, engine fit and mission equipment, but the AS355 Ecureuil 2 typically cruises around 120 knots. Published maximum range is commonly in the 350 to 400 nautical mile class with standard fuel, subject to reserves and payload. Service ceiling is about 16,000 feet on many versions. Maximum takeoff weight is generally around 5,700 pounds, with useful load varying materially by interior, avionics, floats, hoist, camera systems or other installed equipment. Early AS355 F models use twin Allison, later Rolls Royce, 250 series turboshaft engines. The AS355 N and AS355 NP use Turbomeca, now Safran, Arrius engines, with the NP bringing a later drivetrain and improved performance.

Cabin & avionics

The cabin is typically arranged for one pilot and up to five passengers, with wide side doors and a flat floor suited to passenger, utility and special mission layouts. Corporate examples may have club seating, soundproofing and upgraded trim, while public service aircraft often carry mission consoles, searchlights, cameras or medical provisions. Factory era avionics were usually conventional analog and radio navigation packages, with equipment varying widely by operator. Many used aircraft have been modernized with Garmin GNS or GTN navigators, digital audio panels, transponders with ADS B, radar altimeters and, in some cases, helicopter specific glass displays such as Garmin G500H or TXi installations.

Buying & value

Buyers should identify the exact variant, since AS355 F1, F2, N and NP aircraft differ in engines, performance, support considerations and market value. Key review items include engine cycle status, main and tail rotor component life, gearbox remaining time, corrosion history, damage history, mission equipment approvals and the quality of avionics upgrades. Aircraft that spent time in law enforcement, news or utility roles may have valuable equipment, but also higher cycle counts and more complex wiring. In the used market, the AS355 Ecureuil 2 generally sits above single engine AS350 models on acquisition and operating cost, while offering twin engine redundancy in a compact, widely understood airframe.