This Airbus EC225LP was delivered new to Era Helicopters in 2009 (as N247CF) and later flown by its Aeroleo subsidiary in Brazil on offshore oil and gas missions (as PR-VLL). After the EC225 fleet grounding in 2016 (following a crash in Norway) this EC225 was acquired by Air Center Helicopters for utility use. One of its missions was recovering the astronauts from the NASA SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission after the capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near Pensacola, FL on August 2, 2020. The EC225 was chartered by Airbus for Heli-Expo 2022 to fly guests from the Dallas CBD Vertiport.

This former Era Helicopters Airbus EC 225 LP (N602JS) flew offshore and later in support of the US government in Afghanistan. Today, it's one of about a dozen EC 225s operated by Air Center Helicopters on US government and commercial contracts. At Heli-Expo 2022 it was displayed is fire fighting configuration with a belly tank and water bucket. Air Center is based at Spinks Airport, Burleson, TX. It's ex-F-WJXM, F-HUMB, F-WTAB and N602JS. Airbus chartered a second EC 225 to fly its Heli-Expo guests between the Dallas Vertiport and the Airbus Helicopters plant at Grande Prairie Airport.

Credit: Airbus Helicopters, Anthony Pecchi.

Flaring for touchdown on Runway 23. Cancelled in February 2021 as sold in China

One of Bond's latest acquisitions - callsign "Bond 119T" hover taxies up Runway 23 during a training flight. Cancelled in October 2021 as sold in Spain

Humming birds face to face...

Bright yellow survival suits are much in evidence in the cabin as this smart-looking EC-225 returns from the North Sea Platforms.

Immaculate CHC EC-225 carrying out an airtest in beautiful autumn sunshine.

Departing in a cloud of snow dust.

"Helibus 23N" on final for Runway 23.