This 2006 Airbus EC145 (BK 117C-2) N145SU of Stanford Life Flight is based on the roof of the Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto, CA. It is one of three EC145s operated by Air Methods in California (i.e. Fresno and Children's Health of Orange County). Stanford's first helicopter was an Alouette III, N607RM, operated by Rocky Mountain Helicopters in May-August 1984, followed by a TwinStar N57898 (Aug 1984 to Sep 1986), a BK 117 (1986-2007) and a EC145 (2007-present). N145SU will be replace in Spring 2024 by a new Airbus H145 (117D-3) N1984S, msn 21114. Seen departing after refuelling at PAO.

Seen at Shobdon.

Photo by Piet Glas

Painted in camo c/s and displayed with the 'RAMS 3000' surname. It featured a Lucas turret housing a 12.7 mm Browning heavy machine gun with 450 rounds of ammunition. Pylons on either side for a total of eight anti-tank missiles, typically HOT 2, though the pylons could also carry TOW missiles. Air-to-air missiles, rocket pods, and forward-firing cannons could also be carried on these pylons. Weapons associated to a SFIM APX-M397 stabilised thermal sight as well as an additional mast-mounted sight and digital weapons controls avionics. Other systems included an infrared jammer and chaff/flare/ECM system, a Racal Prophet radar warning system and a Racal RAMS 3000 Series avionics management system. Thanks to Joachim Lippl for tech notes.

Demonstration mock-up on the Aribus stand.

Operated by Metro Aviation, arriving from parts unknown. Built in 1991, ex D-HFIH, D-HMBO, and N3202V; later became N317UH and still current as such.