The EC 120B is a multi-engine helicopter built by Eurocopter, an EADs company. It was developed as a joint venture between Singapore, China, and Eurocopter. The product has given the company a new entry-level helicopter and it is the first five-place helicopter since the company introduced Gazelle.
Eurocopter has made advances in reducing cost and overall maintenance requirements for the EC 120B and the owners will certainly benefit from it. The Airrus 2F features a 3000-hour TBO, which can increase to 3500 hours. Another amazing feature of the helicopter is the 30-second cooldown. Although the ordinary 2 minutes cooldown might not seem like too much time. However, when you’re sitting on an aircraft waiting for it to cool down, 2 minutes feels like a lot of time. So, it’s a user-friendly helicopter.
Maintenance
The manufacturers have made EC 120B an easy-to-maintain aircraft with just 4 inspections, 100 hours, 500 hours, 1500 hours, and 12 years. The scheduled maintenance is around 15 minutes per flight. Moreover, the airframe is warranted for three years/1000 hours whereas the engine comes with a three-year coverage.
System and Features
The EC 120B has several amazing features which you will like. The Fenestron isn’t only a safety improvement but consumes less energy than a traditional tail-rotor and provides positive control. Although the Fenestron rotor looks unique on the outside, there is no different flying technique on the inside.
One amazing feature is an integrated engine oil tank. The transmission oil filter is a Champion spin-on filter and is quite easy to deal with. Moreover, all the components are readily accessible.
Probably, the most extraordinary feature of this helicopter is the Sextant Avionique VEMD. It displays all of your flight information. Moreover, it also performs power checks, logs hours, and puts all the information in front of you. It is quite similar to HUD because you only have to look at one instrument to get all the information and not worry about much else.
Interior Features
On the inside, the helicopter seems quite attractive. Firstly, the cabin is completely carpeted. Moreover, the helicopter has quite comfortable and crash-worthy seats. The helicopter is also quite tech-friendly as it features Wifi connectivity, along with headsets and Bluetooth music.
Pricing
Depending on several factors, the average price for a pre-owned Eurocopter EC 120B is $1,237,500. A $618,750 loan over 120 months including $2578 per month in interest equals $31,026 per period payment. For more information, you can visit Av Buyer.
Final Verdict
The EC 120B gives Eurocopter an entry-level machine and it is a good one. It has a unique mix of modern technology and a simplified maintenance mechanism. This will help build product loyalty among the users.
Although the primary markets of the company are corporate and police departments, there is a potential for this helicopter in utility applications, movies, the news industry, and EMS work.
Pilots will enjoy flying the EC 120 B. It is a machine that needs low maintenance and the general public will enjoy its quiet nature. So, if you are in the market for a light single-engine helicopter and looking at Bell 206, you should consider this helicopter.
