Eurocopter EC130

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Eurocopter (Airbus) Model: EC130. Nickname: None
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Helicopter
> FAA Category and Class: Rotorcraft-helicopter
> Engine Description: Single turbine

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/7/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 1.5
> Number of Times Flown: 1
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: —

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 196
> Date First Flown: 10/1/2024
> Location First Flown: Boeing Field, Seattle, WA (KBFI)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Garmin, Frank Lombardi

Recollections: Started flying the EC130 on a project as a Designated Engineering Representative (DER) after retiring from the FAA (retired in 2023) but, when the project slid (as they often do), I ended up just having this first demo flight. Bummer.

The EC130 is point-designed for, among other things, the sightseeing mission.  The cockpit is interesting in this regard in that the PIC sits in the left seat (most helos it’s the right seat, which gives you good view of the center console and you can activate controls there (eg: tune radios, select system switches, etc) with the less-busy left hand which is used for collective.  With left seat PIC, if you want to tune a radio (for example) you have switch you left hand to the cyclic and then move your right (cyclic) hand to make the selection.  Not ideal but doable.  The rest of the front (I believe 2 other seats) are for passengers.