Eurocopter Ec120b

Single Rotorcraft

The Eurocopter EC120B Colibri (Spanish for hummingbird) is a five-seat single-engine light utility helicopter that emerged from an unusual three-way international collaboration between Eurocopter (France and Germany), CATIC (China), and Singapore Aerospace in the mid-1990s. First flown in 1995 and certified in 1997, the EC120 was designed from the outset as an affordable entry point into turbine helicopter operations, targeting flight schools, corporate shuttles, law enforcement, and private owners who wanted modern Eurocopter engineering without the price tag of the larger Écureuil family. Its Turbomeca Arrius 2F engine delivers 504 shaft horsepower, and the fenestron shrouded tail rotor, a Eurocopter signature, reduces noise and improves safety around ground personnel. The EC120's three-blade composite main rotor and wide cabin made it popular for scenic tour operations, particularly in environments where its 140-knot VNE and 20,000-foot service ceiling provided comfortable margins. Though production ended in 2017 after roughly 700 units were built, the type remains common in private and charter fleets, especially in North America and Europe, where its low operating costs and benign handling characteristics continue to appeal to owner-pilots. The EC120 never achieved the ubiquity of the Robinson R44 or the Airbus H125, but it carved out a loyal niche as a refined, quiet, and capable light single for operators who valued European build quality and wanted something larger than a piston helicopter without stepping up to twin-engine complexity. SkyMeter has tracked 35 flights across 26 airframes and 17 operators, with RED 5 AEROSPACE LLC the largest observed operator.