Aerospatiale HH-65 Dolphin

The Aerospatiale HH‑65 Dolphin is a twin‑engine, single‑pilot helicopter originally developed in the early 1970s to meet the United States Coast Guard’s demand for a compact, ship‑board rescue platform. Aérospatiale, the French aerospace firm that later became part of Airbus Helicopters, licensed the design from the American company Hughes Helicopters and produced the airframes at its Marignane plant. First delivered in 1979, the Dolphin entered service in 1980 and quickly replaced the aging HH‑52 Seaguard fleet. Its lightweight airframe, built largely of aluminum and composite materials, houses two Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 turboshaft engines delivering 450 shp each, giving a top speed of 150 knots and a range of roughly 300 nautical miles. Key features include a fully enclosed cockpit with modern avionics, a rescue hoist capable of lifting 600 lb, and folding main and tail rotors for ship storage. The HH‑65 has proven versatile, performing search‑and‑rescue, law‑enforcement, and environmental‑monitoring missions along coastlines worldwide. Its reliability and agility have influenced subsequent Coast Guard rotorcraft, cementing its place as a cornerstone of maritime aviation and a benchmark for short‑range, high‑performance helicopters. Its legacy endures, shaping future Coast Guard rotorcraft development worldwide.