MBB Bo 105

Bo 105
A Bo 105 flying with Luftrettung Bundesministerium des Innern
General information
TypeLight utility helicopter
National originWest Germany
ManufacturerMesserschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB)
StatusIn service
Primary usersRepublic of Korea Army
Number built1640 (total)[1]
1404 (German production)[1]
History
Manufactured1967–2001[2][3]
Introduction date1970
First flight16 February 1967
VariantsEurocopter EC135

The Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm Bo 105 is a light, twin-engine, multi-purpose helicopter developed by Bölkow of Ottobrunn, West Germany. It was the first light twin-engine helicopter in the world, and the first rotorcraft that could perform aerobatic maneuvers such as inverted loops.[4][5] The Bo 105 features a hingeless rotor system, a pioneering innovation in helicopters when it was introduced into service in 1970. Production of the Bo 105 began at the then-recently merged Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB).

The main production facilities for producing the Bo 105 were located in Germany and Canada; due to the level of export sales encountered, additional manufacturing lines were set up in Spain, Indonesia, and the Philippines.[6] MBB, acquired by DASA in 1989, merged its helicopter division with that of France's Aérospatiale to form Eurocopter in 1992 (rebranded Airbus Helicopters since). The latter continued production of the type until 2001. The Bo 105 was formally replaced in Eurocopter's product range by the newer Eurocopter EC135. By the close of production, over 1400 had been produced in Germany, and with license production 1640 had been produced in total.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference hamel was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference eads-1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference euro 40 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Moll 1991, p. 96.
  5. ^ looping capability Archived 17 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine according to the German Air Force museum at Gatow
  6. ^ Moll 1991, pp. 103–104.