Firefighting Helicopter Delivered to Kawasaki City

 Tokyo, March 23, 2005 – Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. today announced that it has delivered the first BK117 C-2 firefighting helicopter to Kawasaki City, Japan.

 The Kawasaki BK117 helicopter was developed jointly by Kawasaki and European helicopter maker Eurocopter Deutschland, GmbH. The helicopter boasts superior safety and operability, a compact body and large clamshell doors in the back of the craft. To date, Kawasaki has delivered about 500 units of this highly popular helicopter around the globe.

 The C-2, the latest BK117 model, is 30 percent roomier in the cabin and has a 30 percent longer range than its predecessors. Along with the improved transport capacity and flying capabilities, the helicopter features low noise and less vibration with the employment of new main rotor blades.