Eurocopter AS350-B3

The Airbus AS350B is a single-engine light utility variant of the Eurocopter AS350 helicopter. Its predecessor--originally designed and manufactured in France--was introduced to the market in 1974. The AS350B was designed for international sale and was certified in France on October 27, 1977. Deliveries began the following year in March 1978. One of its variants, the AS350 B3, first flew on March 1, 1997. Powered by the Turbomeca Arriel 2B engine, the Airbus AS350 B3 has increased performance with a rate of climb of 1670 ft/min. The cockpit features more digital systems, including the Garmin G500H avionics suite and FADEC engine control system. This model also has a history of record-breaking, as it reached the highest altitude landing and takeoff of 29, 029 feet on Mount Everest. In 2010, the record for the highest search-and-rescue altitude was set at a height of 22,640 ft.