Development
A development contract for the EC175 was signed on 5 December 2005, with Preliminary Design Review (PDR) completed on 5 December 2006 and Critical Design Review (CDR) completed on 5 December 2007. Development of the EC175 is expected to cost €600 million. The EC175 is being developed through close cooperation with existing operators, through a customer advisory team (CAT) approach.
During the EC175's formal unveiling at Heli-Expo 2008, Eurocopter booked a total of 111 purchase options from 13 customers, including launch customers Bristow Helicopters and the VIH Aviation Group. During the Zhuhai Airshow in November 2008, a letter of intent for 5 Z-15s was signed between HAIG and Chinese domestic general-purpose aviation company Longken General Aviation Cooperation.
First flown on the 4 December 2009, the prototype had its official maiden flight on 17 December 2009 in Marignane, France. Certification with the EASA will take place in 2013, with initial deliveries in 2013.
An initial assembly line for the EC175 is expected to be established at Eurocopter's Marignane plant, with a second Eurocopter assembly line to follow three or four years later.
Read more about this topic: Eurocopter EC175
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