Editing Eurocopter EC120 Colibri (section)

==Development==
The EC120 Colibri has its origins in the P120, a proposal by French helicopter manufacturer [[Aérospatiale]] that was intended to replace both their [[Aérospatiale Gazelle]] and [[Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama]] single engine helicopters. During the 1980s, Aérospatiale sought international partners with which to co-produce the P120, these included aerospace companies in China, Singapore, and Australia.<ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1989/1989%20-%203662.PDF "Australia pulls out of Aerospatiale P120."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208081026/https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1989/1989%20-%203662.PDF |date=8 December 2015 }} ''Flight International'', 5 December 1989.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160220121728/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-10949159.html "Aerospatiale to build light helicopters with China and Singapore. (P-120 helicopter)."] ''Defense Daily'', 3 July 1991.</ref> In the aftermath of the Chinese Government's crackdown on the [[Tiananmen Square protests of 1989]], the exclusion of Chinese involvement in the project was speculated.<ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1989/1989%20-%202113.html "Aerospatiale venture faces China crisis."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208064201/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1989/1989%20-%202113.html |date=8 December 2015 }} ''Flight International'', 8 July 1989.</ref>

On 20 October 1992, a contract for the joint development contract of the new helicopter was signed by the three principle partners of the project, the newly formed [[Eurocopter]], [[China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation]] (CATIC) and [[ST Aerospace|Singapore Aerospace Ltd]] (STAero).<ref name = "air hist"/> Under the joint development agreement, Eurocopter received a 61% controlling interest and technical leader in the programme, CATIC received a 24% work share and STAero received a 15% work share; CATIC designed and produced the cabin structure and fuel system, STAero produced the tail boom, access doors, and composite materials, while Eurocopter produced the dynamic assemblies, installed the avionics, electrical and [[hydraulic]] systems, and conducted the final assembly activity.<ref name = "light intern">Grey, Peter. [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/light-flier-37102/ "Light flier."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208064203/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/light-flier-37102/ |date=8 December 2015 }} ''Flight International'', 13 May 1998.</ref> Development of the rotorcraft allowed Eurocopter to extend its range to include {{convert|1.5|t|ST|adj=on|lk=on}} rotorcraft.<ref name = "air hist"/>

[[File:Eurocopter EC-120B Colibri (D-HEHA) 03.jpg|thumb|An EC120 hovering, 2010]]
On 9 June 1995, the first prototype EC120 Colibri conducted its [[maiden flight]].<ref name = "air hist">[https://www.airbushelicopters.com/website/en/ref/History_153.html "History: From Eurocopter to Airbus Helicopters."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926154602/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/website/en/ref/History_153.html |date=26 September 2015 }} ''Airbus Helicopters'', Retrieved: 29 November 2015.</ref> By February 1996, the prototype had accumulated 60 flight hours, a second prototype joined the test program later that year.<ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ec120-testing-reaches-60h-20899/ "EC120 testing reaches 60h."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208065434/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ec120-testing-reaches-60h-20899/ |date=8 December 2015 }} ''Flight International'', 14 February 1996.</ref> In February 1997, the EC120 Colibri was formally launched at the [[Helicopter Association International]] (HAI) show in [[Anaheim, California]]; by June 1997, more than 50 orders had been received for the type.<ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/helicopters-on-the-rise-2886/ "Helicopters on the rise."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208065919/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/helicopters-on-the-rise-2886/ |date=8 December 2015 }} ''Flight International'', 14 May 1997.</ref><ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/eurocopter-wins-dauphin-orders-5563/ "Eurocopter wins Dauphin orders."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208060145/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/eurocopter-wins-dauphin-orders-5563/ |date=8 December 2015 }} ''Flight International'', 25 June 1997.</ref> By October 1998, more than 100 orders had been received for the type, leading Eurocopter to increase the production rate from four helicopters per month to six.<ref name = "six product">Moxon, Julian. [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/growing-demand-for-colibri-prompts-production-incr-44078/ "'Growing demand' for Colibri prompts production increase."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208075104/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/growing-demand-for-colibri-prompts-production-incr-44078/ |date=8 December 2015 }} ''Flight International'', 21 October 1998.</ref> In 2002, Eurocopter was in the process of establishing a second assembly line for the EC120 at Australian Aerospace's facility in [[Brisbane]], [[Australia]].<ref>[http://www.airbusgroup.com/int/en/news-media/press-releases/Airbus-Group/Financial_Communication/2002/07/en_20020705_australia_e.html "Australian Prime Minister Inspects Eurocopter Helicopters during his State Visit to Germany."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208130123/http://www.airbusgroup.com/int/en/news-media/press-releases/Airbus-Group/Financial_Communication/2002/07/en_20020705_australia_e.html |date=8 December 2015 }} ''Airbus Helicopters'', 4 July 2002.</ref>

In September 2003, Eurocopter and [[China Aviation Industry Corporation II]] (AVIC II) expanded their partnership agreement to include a co-production arrangement with AVIC II-subsidiary [[Harbin Aircraft Industry Group]] (HAIG).<ref>Sobie, Brendan. [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/eurocopter-expands-chinese-deal-with-ec120-171488/ "Eurocopter expands Chinese deal with EC120."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208074224/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/eurocopter-expands-chinese-deal-with-ec120-171488/ |date=8 December 2015 }} ''Flight International'', 23 September 2003.</ref> On 11 June 2004, a final production agreement was signed; under the agreement, CATIA and HAIG received exclusive market rights in China, and Eurocopter agreed to stop selling French-built EC120s in mainland China.<ref name = "china prod 04">Sobie, Brendan. [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/chinese-army-ready-to-launch-hc120-after-production-183207/ "Chinese army ready to launch HC120 after production deal."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208081712/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/chinese-army-ready-to-launch-hc120-after-production-183207/ |date=8 December 2015 }} ''Flight International'', 22 June 2014.</ref> In June 2014, the [[People's Liberation Army]] of China became the launch customer for the Harbin-produced HC120, reportedly placing an order for eight of the type with options for fifty more.<ref name = "china prod 04"/>

On 30 November 2017 Airbus Helicopters formally announced the end of the H120 program citing low delivery numbers.  Only five H120s were delivered in 2016 compared to 63 [[Robinson R-66]]s.  Airbus stated they are moving away from the lower end of the market spectrum and those helicopters are not as sophisticated as their traditional product line.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.verticalmag.com/news/airbus-helicopters-terminates-h120-program/|title=Airbus Helicopters terminates H120 program - Vertical Magazine|website=VerticalMag.com|date=30 November 2017 |access-date=4 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204171229/https://www.verticalmag.com/news/airbus-helicopters-terminates-h120-program/|archive-date=4 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Diesel demonstrator ===
[[File:Paris Air Show 2017 mecachrome AE440 front.jpg|thumb|The AE440 presented by Mecachrome in 2017]]

Within the Green Rotorcraft European [[Clean Sky]] Joint Technology Initiative environmental research program started in 2011, a H120 Technology demonstrator equipped with a HIPE AE440 high-compression [[aircraft diesel engine]], running on [[jet fuel]], first flew on 6 November 2015.<ref name=EC160219/> It aimed to reduce [[pollutant]] emissions and increase [[fuel efficiency]], nearly double the [[Range (aeronautics)|range]] and enhance operations in [[hot and high]] conditions.<ref name=151110PR>{{cite press release |url= https://www.airbushelicopters.com/website/en/press/Airbus-Helicopters-starts-flight-tests-with-high-compression-engine-for-cleaner,-more-efficient-and-higher-performance-rotorcraft_1859.html |title= Airbus Helicopters starts flight tests with high-compression piston engine |publisher= Airbus Helicopter |date= 10 November 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170320194343/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/website/en/press/Airbus-Helicopters-starts-flight-tests-with-high-compression-engine-for-cleaner,-more-efficient-and-higher-performance-rotorcraft_1859.html |archive-date= 20 March 2017 |url-status= live |df= dmy-all }}</ref>

The powerplant trialed was a [[liquid-cooled]], [[dry sump]] lubricated 4.6-liter 90° [[V8 engine]] with an {{convert|1800|bar|psi|adj=on}} [[common rail]] direct injection, fully machined aluminum blocks, titanium connecting rods, steel pistons and liners, one [[turbocharger]] per cylinder bank.<ref name=151110PR/> With an air-to-air [[intercooler]], it weighed {{convert|197|kg}} without gearbox and the {{convert|330|kW|hp|abbr=on}} installed powerpack weighs {{convert|249|kg}}.<ref name=EC160219>{{cite web |url= http://cordis.europa.eu/result/rcn/177069_en.html |title= Final Report Summary – HIPE AE 440 (Diesel Powerpack for a Light Helicopter Demonstrator) |work= [[CORDIS]] |publisher= European Commission |date= 19 February 2016 |access-date= 1 March 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170302030735/http://cordis.europa.eu/result/rcn/177069_en.html |archive-date= 2 March 2017 |url-status= live |df= dmy-all }}</ref> The rotors were driven via the existing transmission, the faster-turning [[Turbomeca Arrius]] turboshaft was replaced with a multiplier [[gearbox]].<ref>{{cite news |author= Graham Warwick |url= http://aviationweek.com/business-aviation/clean-sky-prepares-helo-diesel-flight-tests |title= Clean Sky Prepares For Helo Diesel Flight Tests |date= 20 March 2015 |work= Aviation Week |access-date= 30 October 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151126064846/http://aviationweek.com/business-aviation/clean-sky-prepares-helo-diesel-flight-tests |archive-date= 26 November 2015 |url-status= live |df= dmy-all }}</ref>

The [[brake specific fuel consumption]] was 200&nbsp;g/kW⋅h.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.teos-engineering.com/experience/jet-a1-aircraft-engine/ |title= Jet A-1 Aircraft Engine |publisher= Teos Powertrain Engineering |access-date= 1 March 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170302025727/http://www.teos-engineering.com/experience/jet-a1-aircraft-engine/ |archive-date= 2 March 2017 |url-status= live |df= dmy-all }}</ref> Torque oscillations were reduced through a light torsional shaft and vibrations are damped by Silent blocs.<ref>{{cite web |author= Alexandre Gierczynski |url= http://www.aerodays2015.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2G-Alexandre-Gierczynski.pdf |title= Light Helicopter Demonstrator with HCE |publisher= Airbus |date= 20 October 2015 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151126041340/http://www.aerodays2015.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2G-Alexandre-Gierczynski.pdf |archive-date= 26 November 2015 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> It was manufactured by Teos Powertrain Engineering—a joint venture between [[Mecachrome]] and D2T (IFPEN group)—for the mechanical design, engine main parts manufacturing, assembly and testing and [[Austro Engine]] for the dual-channel [[FADEC]] and harness, fuel system, airworthiness.<ref name=EC160219/> Power was maintained at 2,500&nbsp;m and ISA+20° and it achieved 42% a fuel consumption reduction, reducing the direct operating costs by 30% along with simpler maintenance.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-airbus-helicopters-powers-a-piston-revolut-434221/ |title= Airbus Helicopters powers a piston revolution for light singles |date= 1 March 2017 |work= Flight Global |access-date= 1 March 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170301151321/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-airbus-helicopters-powers-a-piston-revolut-434221/ |archive-date= 1 March 2017 |url-status= live |df= dmy-all }}</ref>