The A350, or commonly known as the Squirrel (Astar in North American markets) is one of the worlds most popular helicopters with over 7000 helicopters being built with several different variants.
Today I am flying the AS350 SD2 which is an aftermarket conversion fitted by Soloy, and is powered by a Lycoming LTS101-700D-2 engine, rather than the turbomecca engine found in the stock standard B2.
I am new to the AS350, with most my experience in Bell Helicopters (whose rotors spin in the opposite direction) and on this job I have to fly out 4 people and 2 nets of gear into the field, requiring me to become accustomed to slinging through the Astars infamous Vertical Reference Window, and with much difficulty.
00:00 startup
00:23 intro
01:03 Vertical reference window
01:38 The job
02:38 On site
03:35 Talking smack
04:45 The flying
09:10 The review
10:55 The 407