Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

German air rescue and ambulance provider DRF Luftrettung has signed on to modify its fleet of Airbus H145D2 helicopters with five-blade&nbsp;main rotors as part of the OEM’s Service Bulletin retrofit kit beginning in next year's fourth quarter. DRF is&nbsp;converting its diverse fleet of 50 helicopters to an all-Airbus fleet of H135 and H145 twins. Earlier this month it took delivery of two new helicopters—one H135 and one H145.&nbsp;

 


“In the next few years, we intend to adjust our entire fleet to two models. Afterward,&nbsp;our air rescuers will fly with the H135 and H145 models. This also means greater efficiency for our fleet maintenance and training of our personnel,” said DRF chairman Krystian Pracz.&nbsp;

 


The new, foldable five-blade&nbsp;main rotor system is among the upgrades Airbus announced earlier this year for the H145, available as either a retrofit or on new-production aircraft to be called the H145D3.&nbsp;They include Fadec, lower empty weight, and increased useful load. Compared to the D2, the D3 has a slightly smaller main rotor disk, from 36 feet to 35.4 feet, and a 330-pound increase in useful load.

 


The upgrade kit consists of the rotor blades; transmission kit, comprising rotor mast, swashplate, scissors, control rods with associated assembly, oil cooler, and rotor brake; additional electrical hydraulic pump; Helionix software; new forward cross-tube; and modification/tuning of the horizontal stabilizer.&nbsp;

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Airbus Signs DRF for H145 Upgrades

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News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

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