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.

Besides a large fleet of AS-350's, the LA County Sheriff Department (LASD) also operates three AS-332L1 Super Pumas. In addition to supporting law enforcement duties, those helicopters are sometimes also called for rescue missions. Unfortunately, N950SG crashed during one of those on March 19, 2022 near San Gabriel Dam (CA), luckily without loss of life. N950SG, like the LASD's other two AS332s, has been remanufactured in 2004, hence it's c/n in the 9000 range. It joined the LASD in 2013, having previously been N212AE. The AS332's replaced the LASD famous Sikorsky SH-3D Sea King.

Caracal of EH 1/67

2461 is the EC725R2 Recherche Et Sauvetage u Combat (RESCO, Combat Search and Rescue) prototype. The Caracal had Eurocopter test registration F-ZVMC in 1999 and became F-ZKDH in september 2002. It was assigned IH within EET 6/330 from September 2001 to 2000 before it became F-ZKDA with Eurocopter. It was first noted with code SA with EH 1/67 in June 2005. In the background EC725R2 serial 2626/SD is seen.

Doing some hover work during an air test. Cancelled in March 2021 as sold in Spain

Taxiing in for static display at this year's Royal International Air Tattoo.

With markings celebrating the 500th Super Puma delivered

Credit: Airbus Helicopters, Anthony Pecchi.

In 2009, the Albanian AF ("Forca Ajrore Shqiptare") ordered five Cougars for troop transport, Medevac, SAR and VIP duties. Unfortunately, the 1st one (serialled FA-630) crashed during a pre-delivery testflight in July 2012, while it was still with Eurocopter in France. The remaining four are based at Tirana Farka Heliport (LAFK) and FA-633 shown here returns from the acceptance flight after undergoing heavy maintenance at RUAG Aerospace in Alpnach. RUAG is a well known and competent Super Puma / Cougar MR&O center, drawing from 35 years of maintaining the Swiss AF Super Pumas.

Cancelled in August 2021 as sold in Sweden

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

Different Military Code

Previously LN-OHM, current in 2021

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