The Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin (formerly sold as Aérospatiale SA 365 Dauphin 2) is a medium-weight multipurpose twin-engine helicopter that's been featured in many of the James Bond movies; including Octopussy, Licence to Kill, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Spectre.
The Dauphin was originally manufactured by Aérospatiale, which later absorbed into Eurocopter/Airbus Helicopters. It's variants include the HH-65 Dolphin (Search and rescue variant, mainly used by the United States Coast Guard), the AS565 Panther (military version) and the Chinese-licensed Harbin Z-9.
History[]
Octopussy (film)[]
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Orlov arriving to Kamal Khan's palace.
Two separate Aérospatiale-era SA 365 Dauphin 2 helicopters appear in this film, both employed by the Soviets (who did not employ such in real life). The first is a red SA 365 is used to bring General Orlov to Kamal Khan's palace in India. A green SA 365 is used to transport General Gogol to Orlov's crashed Mercedes-Benz 280 S (W108) that has the stolen jewelry inside.
Licence to Kill (film)[]
HH-65A Dolphin operated by the United States Coast Guard in the pre-title sequence, when the DEA finds that Franz Sanchez is at the stateside jurisdiction. James Bond later uses the helicopter to trap escaping Sanchez's Cessna 172 plane. The same helicopter appears to be part of the convoy thats escorting Sanchez on the Overseas Highway and is present when Killifer drives the van off the bridge and into the water. However, the helicopter is little use this time, as scuba divers extract Sanchez and Kilifer underwater.
Tomorrow Never Dies (film)[]
AS565 Panther variant appears at the Arms Bazaar of the pre-title sequence. It is identified by Charles Robinson as "Panther AS565 attack helicopter" through the footage transmitted by the spy camera planted by Bond on the Bazaar's outer perimeter. It is destroyed by a missile fired from the Aero L-39 Albatros commandeered by Bond.
The World Is Not Enough (film)[]
A dark-green AS365 appears as Elektra King's personal transport helicopter. She uses it to arrive to the Azerbaijani excavation and later is used to bring her and Bond to the nearby mountains to ski, where they are attacked by the Parahawks.
Spectre (film)[]
- "In three minutes, this building will be demolished. I can get out easily, but you have a choice."
- ― Ernst Stavro Blofeld to James Bond
Eurocopter AS365N2 Dauphin 2 (Registration G-LCPL, c/n 6393 built in 1991) is employed by SPECTRE. It leaves the former MI6 building and crashed into a bridge over the Thames while carrying Ernst Stavro Blofeld, having been shot out of the sky by James Bond. Blofeld survives the helicopter crash, suffering injuries to his legs, and attempts to escape, but is cornered by Bond and M, before being taken into custody.
Behind the Scenes[]
Octopussy[]
The helicopter used in the movie was built in 1978 and had a British registration, G-BGNM. During the time of the filming, it was rented from 'Bond Aviation'. Most probably, the green Dauphin 2 used by Gogol is the very same helicopter, with the rear windows overtaped, and temporary with a different colour than red. The aircraft was later sold to Spain and France, where it was written off in 2013.
Gallery[]
