HB350 Esquilo

The HB350 Esquilo is Helibras’ Brazilian‑built version of the Eurocopter AS‑350 series, introduced in the mid‑1980s as part of a licensing agreement that marked the country’s first indigenous production of a modern turbine helicopter. The first prototype rolled out in 1984 and entered service a year later, quickly becoming a workhorse for civil, military and governmental operators throughout Brazil and other South American nations. Powered by the Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 engine, the Esquilo delivers up to 610 shp, driving a four‑blade composite main rotor and a shrouded Fenestron tail rotor that together give the aircraft excellent maneuverability and low‑noise operation. Its glass‑cockpit avionics suite, high‑altitude capability (up to 6 500 m) and versatile payload capacity make it suitable for roles ranging from executive transport and aerial work to medical evacuation, police surveillance and offshore support. By providing a locally manufactured, cost‑effective platform, the HB350 helped establish Helibras as a key player in the Brazilian aerospace sector, reduced reliance on imported machines, and fostered a generation of pilots and technicians trained on a modern turbine helicopter, thereby strengthening regional aviation capability.