The EC225 is a large twin-engine helicopter derived from the very successful AS332L/L1/L2 series of helicopters. The AS332 was originally developed by Aerospatiale.
Aerospatiale was formed in the early 1970s by combining most of the French government-owned aerospace companies, including Sud Aviation, which had been responsible for helicopter design and production. In the 1990s, the helicopter division of Aerospatiale was merged with the German MBB helicopter company to form Eurocopter. Today, Eurocopter is a division of EADS, a multinational European aerospace giant.
The newest member of the AS332 Super Puma family is the EC225. The biggest difference between the AS332 and EC225 is the rotor system. Using technology developed for the EC155, Eurocopter has developed a next-generation five-bladed spheriflex main rotor system for the EC225, designed to increase lift capability and speed while reducing vibrations.
The EC225 is powered by twin Turbomeca Makila 2A engines rated at 2,413 shp for maximum emergency power/one engine inoperative, 2,100 shp for takeoff power and 1,870 shp maximum continuous. The engines are composed of modules that can be replaced independently for ease of maintenance.
The EC225 received its certification in 2005 and is in current production.
