A technician worked on the rotor head of an H145 helicopter with a five-blade rotor

Retrofit H145 D2 to D3

DRF Luftrettung is once again demonstrating its innovative strength: as the world's first operator of the H145 aircraft type, we have developed the processes for the so-called retrofit to a new five-bladed rotor system together with Airbus Helicopters. These now serve as a template for all further retrofits.

With the SB-Retrofit available since May 2021, the EASA Part-145 maintenance organisation of DRF Maintenance enables all H145 (BK 117 D2) operators worldwide to upgrade their helicopters to the new version (BK 117 D3) and benefit from the detailed experience of the MRO organisation.

Three rotor blades lie next to each other on wooden supports in a shipyard and are being serviced.

Advantages of the new rotor system

  • The conversion to the five-blade rotor significantly increases performance. The new system makes the helicopter lighter and increases the maximum take-off weight to 3,800 kg. This means more load on board, more fuel capacity and longer flight distances.

  • With the five rotor blades, the helicopter is even more stable in the air, which means more flying comfort for the crew and patients.

  • The hingeless main rotor head makes maintenance easier: no more oils, greases or bearings are required.

Components of the conversion

  • In addition to the rotor blades and rotor mast, the SB retrofit includes other helicopter parts that are replaced as part of the conversion: Modification of the main gearbox, replacement of batteries and software updates. A total of 16 service bulletins will be processed.

  • A landing gear damper is removed because it is no longer required, electrical cabling is modified and an additional hydraulic pump (for ground tests) is installed.

A technician works on the rotor head of an H145 helicopter with a five-blade rotor

Benefit from Retrofit

Contact us and find out how you can make your H145 even better with this uncomplicated conversion.
Jan Berger
Jan Berger

Technical Sales Manager

+49 (0) 711 7007 3000