EdA Colibri revived
At the beginning of November 2021, the Ejército del Aire (EdA, Spanish Air Force) overhaul centre Maestranza at Albacete delivered a Eurocopter (Airbus Helicopters) EC120B Colibri helicopter to the Centro Logístico de Armamento y Experimentación (CLAEX, Armament, Experimental and Logistics Center) at Torrejón de Ardoz air base.
The EC120B, serial HE.25-6/78-25 (construction number 1175), was delivered with a Flight Test Instrumentation (FTI) system. This FTI-system consists of an inertial system, a flight control sensor system, a data exploitation system and a pre-installation of a telemetry system.
These new capabilities will allow the CLAEX to control the EC120B's flight parameters in real time and record quantitative data for its operations. With fifteen Colibri helicopters delivered to the EdA in 2000 and 2001, this latest FTI will improve the safety and efficiency of the EC120B.
This latest project has been carried out by a multidisciplinary team of engineering and technical personnel from Maestranza, in which several workshops of the unit have participated in collaboration with CLAEX and with the support of Ala 78 (Wing 78) and has lasted eight weeks during the months of August and September.
The EdA also operates the Colibri with their 'Patrulla Aspa' demonstration team. Although all EC120Bs are based with the 782 Escadron/Ala 78 at Granada-Armilla Air Base, HE.25-6 will be operated with the CLAEX at Torrejón.
According to our Scramble Database, EC120B with serial/code HE.25-5/78-24 has not been sighted for some 10 years now. Maybe some of you readers can help us with information on this particular helicopter.
Photos and information by Ejército del Aire, Maestranza and www.lacerca.com