MBB Bo 105

In 1964, development work began at Bölkow upon the helicopter that would become the Bo 105, although work on the hingeless rotor it would use had begun earlier. On 16 February 1967, the second Bo 105A prototype conducted its maiden flight at Ottobrunn in Germany; the first public demonstration was held in May 1967. The test program was broken down into stages as the Bo 105 comprised a new airframe, new rotor system, and a new engine; thus the flying Bo 105 prototype was initially equipped with a main rotor from Westland Helicopter's Scout rotorcraft and a pair of Allison Model 250 turboshaft engines instead of their production counterparts. the Bo 106 shared many similarities to the Bo 105, the principal difference being a widened cabin area, capable of seating three abreast in the front row and four abreast in the rear of the cabin. However, nothing further came of the Bo 106 project. In 1976, the Bo 105CB, equipped with more powerful Allison 250-C20B engines, was introduced. The Bo 105C was further developed to become the Bo 105CBS, the primary change being a fuselage stretch of 10 inches to meet American demand for emergency medical service (EMS) operations; this version was often referred to as the Bo 105 Twin Jet in the United States. US aerospace firm Boeing-Vertol served as a partner in the type's production and further development, and marketed the BO 105 in the US. The Bo 105 CB and the Bo 105 CBS variants were also subject to license manufacturing agreements, leading to them being produced by the Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation in the Philippines which produced 44 units from 1977-1997, Indonesian Aerospace (IPTN) in Indonesia, and Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA) in Spain in addition to the main production line in Germany. Including the license production in Canada, Indonesia, Philippines and Spain the total is about 1640; of that 1404 were made in Germany. ==Design==

The Bo 105 has a reputation for having high levels of maneuverability; certain variants have been designed for aerobatic maneuvers and used for promotional purposes by operators, one such operator in this capacity being professional pilot Aaron Fitzgerald, flying for Red Bull. During the 1970s, the Bo 105 was known for having a great useful load capacity and higher cruise speed than the majority of its competitors. While not being considered a visually attractive helicopter by some pilots, the Bo 105 was known for possessing steady, responsive controls and a good flight attitude. Most models could perform steep dives, rolls, loops, turnovers, and various aerobatic maneuvers; according to MBB the Bo 105 is cleared for up to 3.5 positive G force and one negative. the flexibility of the rotor blades works to absorb movements typically requiring hinges in most helicopter rotor designs. The rotor blades are made from reinforced-plastic glass-fiber composite material; the flexibility of the main rotor allows for active elements other than rotor pitch changes to be removed, greatly simplifying maintenance and extending blade lifespan. The reliability of the advanced rotor system is such that, in over six million operating hours across the fleet, there was a total of zero failures (as of 1991). The rigid rotor design adopted on the Bo 105 has been partially responsible for the type's agility and responsiveness; it remained an uncommon feature on competing helicopters throughout the Bo 105's production life. Military operators would commonly operate the type at a very low altitude to minimise visibility to enemies, the Bo 105 being well matched to such operations, as the helicopter's flight qualities effectively removed or greatly minimised several of the hazards such a flight profile could pose to pilots. When outfitted with optional auxiliary fuel tanks, a basic model Bo 105 had a flight endurance of roughly five hours under load. In the event of a single engine failure, the Bo 105 could typically continue its flight, albeit with a reduction in cruise speed and range. In a maritime context, the BO 105 can be equipped with auxiliary fuel tanks, emergency flotation equipment, an inflatable life raft, folding rotor blades and high skid landing gear. ==Operational history==

In 1975, the German Army decided to procure a specialist anti-tank version armed with up to six Euromissile HOT missiles, designated as the Bo 105 PAH-1 (Panzerabwehrhubschrauber, "anti-tank helicopter"). A total of 212 Bo 105 PAH-1s were delivered between 1979 and 1984. In 1977, the German Ministry of Defence selected the Bo 105C for its light observation helicopter (VBH) program, leading to the procurement of another 100 rotorcraft. During the 1970s, MBB issued a license to produce the Bo 105 to Indonesian Aerospace (IPTN) as part of a wider agreement to help develop Indonesia's aviation industry. Within ten years, manufacture of the Bo 105 had been entirely localised within IPTN's own facilities. The Bo 105 has been used by various branches of the Indonesian National Armed Forces; military-operated Bo 105s have been reportedly used during the 1999 East Timorese crisis and the Papua conflict. Indonesian Bo 105s have also participated in several large-scale joint exercises. The Mexican Navy operated a number of armed Bo 105s to perform maritime reconnaissance duties; during the early 1980s, Mexico procured a number of a Uribe-class patrol vessels which were equipped to handle the Bo 105 for off-shore operations. In 2005, work was completed on a series of upgrades to 11 of the Mexican Navy's Bo 105s, having received Forward looking infrared (FLIR) sensors, Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, search radars, new rotor blades, armament pylons, and other changes. In November 2014, Jet Rescue Air Ambulance inaugurated Mexico's first dedicated civil air ambulance rotorcraft using a Bo 105. , 2002 During the late 1990s, the Republic of Korea Army aviation procured a number of Bo 105s as part of an ongoing drive to improve the force's reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities; these were manufactured under a co-production arrangement between Eurocopter and the newly formed Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), receiving the designation Korean Light Helicopter (KLH), KAI also promoted the type to export customers. The Bo 105 gained widespread use by emergency medical service (EMS) / medevac operators; in 1998, Flying Magazine reported that between the Bo 105 and the MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 (a newer rotorcraft derived from the Bo 105), MBB held 35% of the EMS market share. The first EMS-orientated Bo 105 in Scotland entered service in 1989; in November 2015, the last Bo 105 air ambulance operated in Britain was retired, the type having typically been replaced by the newer Eurocopter EC135. In 2009, the last Bo 105 to be produced was purchased by Canadian EMS specialist Dam Helicopters. In May 2014, Airbus Helicopter reported that, worldwide, the Bo 105 had accumulated 8 million flight hours, and that approximately 700 Bo 105s remained in service. ==Variants==

The variants used by the German Army are the Bo 105P and Bo 105M. ;Bo 105A:First production model primarily for civil use and equipped with two Allison 250-C18 turbine engines. ;Bo 105ATH:HOT-armed anti-tank version for the Spanish Army. Local designation HA.15. ;Bo 105C:Initial version. Developed in 1972 and equipped with two Allison 250-C20 turbines engines. ;Bo 105CB: Main production version from 1975, powered by two Allison 250-C20B engines. 2008 ;Bo 105CBS:Utility transport version, with the fuselage stretched by and an extra window. to meet Republic of Korea Army's operational requirements. KLH also has greatly improved rotor blade and transmission system. 12 are in service. ;Bo 105LOH:Observation version for the Spanish Army. Local designation HR.15. They were phased out and replaced by disarmed and modified PAH1.: Bo 105P1M: Disarmed Bo 105P for light multi-purpose tasks as a replacement for the Bo 105M. ;Bo 105MSS:Maritime version, fitted a search radar. ;Bo 105P/BSH: Proposed modification of PAH-1s into escort version for the German Army, armed with Stinger air-to-air missiles. Cancelled 1993. ;Bo 105P/PAH-1 Phase 2: Planned further upgraded version of PAH-1 with infra-red roof mounted sight for HOT-2 missiles giving a night attack capability. Programme cancelled 1993. ;Bo 105E-4:12 German Army Bo 105P upgraded and overhauled for a 10 million euro contract and donated to Albania first batch delivered in 2006, the helicopters have better performance and avionics. The conversion of other Bo 105 helicopters from the German Armed Forces is also under consideration with a view to future sales. ;Bo 106:Widened cabin to seat 7 instead of 5. First flight was on 26 September 1973. A single helicopter of that variant has been made (registration D-HDCI, serial no. 84). The Bo 106 was also equipped with more powerful Allison 250 C 20B engines. In 1981, the German air rescue organization Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht/DRF Luftrettung bought that prototype and had it rebuilt into a 105 CB-2 with a standard cabin. It flew for DRF until November 1993 under the registration D-HCCC, but in 1994 it was put aside to gain spare parts for another DRF helicopter (Bo 105 CBS-S, registration D-HNNN, serial number 662). ;Philippine Aerospace Development CorporationHummingbird: An unlicensed development of the Bo 105C with revised cockpit structure. ;Indonesian Aerospace Bumblebee-001:Proposed tandem-seat attack helicopter design based on NBO-105 airframe developed by Indonesian Aerospace and Indonesian Army Research and Development Service in 2010. It would have a length of , maximum take off weight of , and maximum range of . ==Operators==

Military ; • Albanian Air Force –4 units. ; • Royal Bahraini Air Force ; • Chilean Navy - 1 unit. ; • Spanish Army Government ; • Buenos Aires Province Police • Santa Fe Province Police • Policía Federal Argentina • Módena Helicópteros lease to paramedic services. ;: • Carabineros de Chile ; • Indonesian National Police • National Search and Rescue Agency • National Disaster Management Authority ; • Philippine Coast Guard ; • Ministry of Emergency Situations ; • South African Police Service ; • Customs Service • National Police • Civil Guard Former BO105-CBS in flight, 2009|alt= ; • Royal Brunei Air Force – operated by No. 12 Squadron (originally known as 2 Squadron), retired February 2022 MBB Bo 105 over St. Lawrence River near Quebec City|alt= ; • Canadian Coast Guard - all retired in 2016 after Bell 429 delivered ; • Chilean Air Force ; • Ciskei Defence Force ; • FinnHEMS ; • German State Police • German Army ; • Royal Netherlands Air Force • Dutch Aviation Police ; • Nigerian Air Force ; • Philippine Air Force • Philippine Navy • Philippine Constabulary • Integrated National Police • Philippine National Police ; • Sierra Leone Air Arm ; • Sudanese Police Force |alt= • Swedish Army • Arméflyget, Hkp 9A, 21 Bo 105CB3 aircraft used as anti-tank missile carriers equipped with four SAAB HeliTOW between 1987 and 1998, with one company stationed in AF 1, Boden, and the other company in Af 2, Linköping. In 1998, they were transferred to: • Försvarsmaktens helikopterflottilj: where all helicopters in the Swedish armed forces fell under common command; here the Hkp 9A were disarmed and used for light transports and schooling until 2009. ; • Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force ; • United Arab Emirates Air Force ; • New York Police Department • Petroleum Helicopters Inc. ; • Uruguayan Navy Civilian • United Kingdom: Used by Cornwall Air Ambulance in the first HEMS service in the United Kingdom ==Accidents and incidents==

• On 17 August 2010 a Philippine Navy PADC/MBB Bo 105C serial 411 crashed near Zamboanga City with two casualties. • 21 August 2012 a Philippine Navy PADC/MBB Bo 105C serial involved in search and recovery efforts for the bodies of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo ditched in Masbate due to engine trouble and came to rest in waist-deep water. All occupants were uninjured. • 27 June 2017 - A hijacked Bo 105 of the Venezuelan criminal investigation agency (CICPC) was used to attack the Supreme Tribunal of Justice and the Interior Ministry in Caracas, Venezuela. • On 27 November 2022, an NBO-105 helicopter with registration number P-1103 belonging to the Indonesian National Police crashed in the waters of Bangka Belitung Islands, caused by bad weather. A search for the crew was carried out by the National Police with joint search and rescue team until 18 December 2022. Four crew members on board the helicopter were declared dead, with three bodies recovered and one missing. ==Aircraft on display==

Colombia • A Bo 105CB registration ARC 202 of the Colombian Navy is on display at the History Museum of the Armed Forces of Colombia, Tocancipá Germany • Since 2011 a Bo 105 in yellow rescue livery is part of an art installation by Alfred Gockel at the Kamener Kreuz (Autobahn intersection of A1 and A2 in Germany). • A Bo 105P, MSN V-04, registered as D-HAPE, the fourth prototype of the Bo 105, which first flew in 1969, on display at Deutsches Museum. • A Bo 105S, MSN S-868, registered as D-HILF, painted in yellow ADAC colors, on display at Munich Airport Besucherpark. Indonesia • Bo 105C registration P-4005 of the Indonesian National Police is on display at Aceh Tsunami Museum in Banda Aceh, Aceh. • NBo 105CB registration HE-4103 of the Indonesian Navy is on display at Indonesian Naval Aviation Museum in Surabaya, East Java. • NBo 105CB registration HR-1525 of the Indonesian Air Force/National Search and Rescue Agency is on display at Transportation Museum of Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, East Jakarta. • Bo 105C serial 142, Philippine Navy is on display at Naval Station Jose Andrada, City of Manila, Philippines. • Bo 105C serial 422, Philippine Navy is on display at Philippine Navy Museum, Fort San Felipe, Cavite City, Philippines. Philippine National Police • Bo 105CBS serial 972, Integrated National Police is on static display at the Philippine National Police Museum, Camp General Rafael T. Crame in Quezon City, Philippines. United Kingdom Cornwall Air Ambulance • Bo 105DBS-4 UK Registration G-CDBS: This aircraft is on display at the Cornwall Air Ambulance Exhibit at Land's End in Cornwall. ==Specifications (Bo 105CB)==