Eurocopter MH-65 Dolphin

The Eurocopter MH-65 Dolphin is a twin-engined helicopter operated by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for medevac-capable search and rescue (SAR) and armed Airborne Use of Force missions. It is a variant of the French-built Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin (SA366).

Development

The SA366 G1 Dauphin version was selected by the United States Coast Guard in 1979 as its new short range recovery (SRR) air-sea rescue helicopter, replacing the Sikorsky HH-52A Sea Guard. In total 99 helicopters, optimised for the USCG's search and rescue role tasks and given the designation HH-65A Dolphin, were acquired. Unlike the HH-52, the HH-65A is not able to perform water landings. The HH-65 normally carries a crew of four: Pilot, Copilot, Flight Mechanic and Rescue Swimmer.

The Dolphin was manufactured by Aerospatiale Helicopter Corporation (later Airbus Helicopters) and assembled in Grand Prairie, Texas. Lycoming LTS101-750B-2 turboshaft engines were selected, while Rockwell Collins manufactured the HH-65's avionics in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Israeli Air Force service

In the early 1980s, the Israeli Navy sought to acquire a purpose-built maritime helicopter to bolster its over-the-horizon detection and targeting capabilities. Several helicopter types were evaluated, including the Westland Lynx and SH-60 Seahawk; in 1983, Israel announced the selection of the HH-65 Dolphin. Seeking a few examples to gain service experience and with limited funding, Israel acquired two used HH-65A developmental test aircraft from the USCG, the first HH-65A pre-production prototype (c/n 6002) and the third prototype (c/n 6005). These were delivered on 4 August 1985 and although owned by the navy, they were operated by the Israeli Air Force. Initially serving as the maritime flight of 124 Squadron at Palmachim, in June 1987 the IAF formed a dedicated maritime squadron, 193 Squadron, to which the two Dolphins were assigned. On 16 September 1996 one crashed in the Mediterranean during a joint night training exercise with two squadrons, Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin helicopter number 905 crashed about 12 miles (19 kilometers) west of the coast of Nahariya. The crash killed all three crew members: the squadron commander, Captain Lt. Col. Ben-Zion (Benzi) Bachar, the co-pilot, Captain Shahak Sela, and the Navy's reconnaissance officer, Captain Eran Garbia. In the searches conducted that night, Captain Shahak's body was found. Four months later, in January 1997, the body of Lt. Col. Bachar was located. Captain Garbia's body was not found. The remaining helicopter was retired a year later, replaced by the Eurocopter AS565 Panther. The Dolphins were operated by a crew consisting of an IAF Pilot, and IAF mechanic and an IN maritime support officer. First deployed in USCG colors, they were later given a blue and gray color scheme.

Variants

right|thumb|Members of [[Coast Guard Air Station Savannah|USCG Air Station Savannah use a USCG HH-65C demonstrating a helicopter rescue.]]

;HH-65A: Initial USCG version, powered by two LTS101-750B-2 turboshaft engines and with an MTOW.

;HH-65B: Avionics upgrade undertaken on a portion of the fleet. Retrofit included an NVG-compatible integrated flight management avionics suite consisting of two GPS-embedded CDU-900G control display units and two MFD-255 multifunction flat panel displays. The HH-65B upgrade was undertaken at the Coast Guard's Aircraft Repair and Supply Center (ARSC) in Elizabeth City, NC, with the first aircraft rolling-off the post-depot maintenance (PDM) line in March 2001.

;HH-65C: HH-65A/B upgraded with new Arriel 2C2-CG engines that provide 40% more power and higher performance, plus an upgraded tail gearbox, long-nose avionics compartment, increased MTOW, expanded lateral flight envelope and Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD) with First Limit Indicator (FLI). First retrofit completed in October 2004.

thumb|Landing gear down

;MH-65C: Initially intended only for use by the Multi-Mission Cutter Helicopter (MCH), a further enhancement of the HH-65C within the USCG's Deepwater effort, includes the installation of a 10-blade low-noise Fenestron, relocated avionics, and an Airborne Use of Force (AUF) package (in common with that of the modernized HH-60T) which provides the capability to fire warning and disabling shots from the air. The MH-65C is used in AUF missions, such as the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) mission taken up by the MH-65C in early 2008. AUF aircraft are armed with the Barrett M107CQ 12.7 mm anti-materiel rifle and M240G 7.62 mm machine gun. The helicopter can also be used for counter terrorism.

;MH-65D: MH-65C with an upgraded flight navigation system common to Department of Defense helicopters. The first production MH-65D was completed on 20 January 2011 and is fitted with a Honeywell HG7502 radar altimeter, two Honeywell H-764G EGI's (embedded GPS/inertial navigation systems) and two control display units CDU-7000D from Rockwell Collins. 97 HH/MH-65Cs will be upgraded to MH-65D standard.

;MH-65E: The MH-65E incorporates upgrades that modernize the cockpit by incorporating digital "glass cockpit" instruments, known as the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) from Collins Aerospace, similar to those installed in the Coast Guard's upgraded MH-60T Jayhawk Medium Range Recovery (MRR) helicopters. The Echo upgrade replaces the legacy analog automatic flight control with a digital system, and a digital weather radar system. Though projected to begin delivery in 2017, The MH-65E model began deliveries to the fleet in 2018 and completed delivery in 2024 with 90 total aircraft delivered.

Operators

thumb|Israeli Air Force HH-65 operating with a [[Sa'ar 4.5-class missile boat]]

thumb|HH-65C Dolphins of the [[United States Coast Guard ]]

Israeli Air Force
CGAS Atlantic City
Coast Guard ATC
CGAS Barbers Point
CGAS Corpus Christi
CGAS Detroit
CGAS Houston
CGAS Humboldt Bay
CGAS Kodiak
CGAS Miami
CGAS North Bend
CGAS Port Angeles
CGAS San Francisco
CGAS Savannah
Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron

Eurocopter MH-65 Dolphin

Development

Israeli Air Force service

Variants

Operators

Specifications (MH-65C)

See also

References

External links