CALSTAR launches new airships

[norcalbusa]

The first of the new Eurocopter EC135's went into service this morning at Gilroy ) Calstar 2) and I was able to catch a few pictures. Whole new paint scheme, last pic is the old one for comparing.

Old scheme;

 

[MtnBiker2005]

The above helicopter in the December issue.
http://www.policeaviationnews.com/Acrobat/200PANewsDec2012.pdf (Page 14 - PDF FILE)
http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?nid=101923

FAA CALSTAR List

N832CS - ModeS:AB600B - EC35 - Serial:1050 - FAA - Looking at the ModeS logs. It came to California on November 21, 2012

N833CS - ModeS:AB63C2 - EC35 - Serial:1052 - FAA - First ModeS hit was on December 1,2012 over McClellan, CA - Dec 4th FlightAware Track

 

[kma371]

ugh. what's with the coast guard orange? that's what it remind me of at least. not digging it.

 

[norcalbusa]

I suspect its for visual acuity. Or the owner's wife liked it.

ugh. what's with the coast guard orange? that's what it remind me of at least. not digging it.

 

[kma371]

I suspect its for visual acuity. Or the owner's wife liked it.

haha. likely the latter

 

[ScannerDude244]

ugh. what's with the coast guard orange? that's what it remind me of at least. not digging it.

Yeah black and blue look way better!

Didn't they just get new helicopters like 4-5 years ago?

 

[inigo88]

Yeah I don't think they're liking their MD-900s all that much. I've heard they don't have the greatest autorotation characteristics. US Border Patrol was supposed to buy a bunch of MD-600s (similar NOTAR design) and backed out I think after this autorotation accident:

MD600Auto - YouTube

 

[norcalbusa]

Yeah black and blue look way better!

Didn't they just get new helicopters like 4-5 years ago?

Yep- 2008ish for the MD's. Had Bell 222's and the proven Europter BO-105's before that.

 

[norcalbusa]

MD was supporting the 900's poorly for a long time- imagine a $4m asset parked over a $500 widget that needed changing, that's just wrong.

Yeah I don't think they're liking their MD-900s all that much. I've heard they don't have the greatest autorotation characteristics. US Border Patrol was supposed to buy a bunch of MD-600s (similar NOTAR design) and backed out I think after this autorotation accident:

MD600Auto - YouTube

 

[ScannerDude244]

Here is the Calstar 5 in Salinas

http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20121214/NEWS01/312140026/CALSTAR-upgrades-fleet

I also heard that the cal star 2 pilot now works for cal fire and fly's C406 out of bear valley.

 

[MtnBiker2005]

Photo of CALSTAR N837CS at HeliExpo2014.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phantomphan1974photography/12713307475/in/pool-helihub
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N837CS

http://helihub.com/2014/02/23/helihub-com-produces-list-of-helicopters-at-heli-expo-2014/