EUROCOPTER EC145 SERIES

Eurocopter EC145 / H145 Helicopters for Sale — Medium Twin Excellence

The Eurocopter EC145 — developed from the BK117 C-1 in partnership with Kawasaki and now marketed as the Airbus H145 — occupies the sweet spot between light twins and full medium helicopters, delivering a spacious eight-to-nine-seat cabin with twin-engine safety in a package that operates more economically than larger medium types. The US Army adopted the EC145 as the UH-72A Lakota for utility and training duties, providing a military endorsement that reflects the type's reliability and operational versatility. In civilian hands, the EC145 and H145 serve as the premier large-cabin light-twin helicopters in EMS, law enforcement, offshore, and executive transport markets worldwide.

EC145 vs H145 — Understanding the Evolution

• EC145 — Original production variant with twin Turbomeca Arriel 1E2 engines, glass cockpit, and clamshell rear doors inherited from the BK117. Seats up to 9 passengers.
• EC145 T2 — Uprated Arriel 2E engines with full authority digital control, significantly improving performance in hot-and-high conditions while reducing fuel consumption.
• H145 — Current production designation with Arriel 2E engines, Helionix integrated avionics suite with four-axis autopilot, and optional five-blade rotor system that dramatically reduces vibration and noise.
• H145M — Military variant with self-protection systems, NVG-compatible cockpit, and weapons provisions serving multiple air forces.

The Clamshell Rear Door Advantage

Inherited directly from the BK117 lineage, the EC145's rear clamshell doors define its EMS and utility value proposition. The ability to load a full-size stretcher straight in from the rear — without the angling and maneuvering required with side doors — is a clinical and operational advantage that EMS operators consistently cite as decisive in aircraft selection. ADAC Luftrettung, Europe's largest air ambulance operator, standardized on the EC145 specifically because this loading capability improves patient care during the critical moments of aircraft loading at accident scenes.

Law Enforcement and Government Adoption

The US Army's selection of the EC145 as the UH-72A Lakota for medical evacuation training and utility missions validated the type's reliability at the highest institutional level. Numerous state police, highway patrol, and federal law enforcement agencies operate EC145s in surveillance and tactical roles with advanced sensor suites. The helicopter's twin-engine safety margins, all-weather IFR capability, and spacious cabin for sensor operators make it an ideal law enforcement platform.

Find Your EC145 or H145 on Airplane Trade

Browse Eurocopter EC145 and Airbus H145 helicopters for sale on Airplane Trade. EMS-configured examples with full medical equipment, law enforcement variants, government utility aircraft, and VIP-interior executive examples from verified sellers worldwide. Arriel engine program enrollment status and complete component documentation provided with every listing.