G-SDTL | Guimbal Cabri G2

  • Aircraft type: Guimbal Cabri G2
  • Construction number: 1110
  • Military serial: n/a
  • Civilian registration: G-SDTL

The Guimbal Cabri G2 is a two-seat light helicopter with a three-bladed fully articulated main rotor and a Fenestron-type tail rotor. It has a skid landing gear and side-by-side seating for a pilot and passenger. Powered by a 180 hp Lycoming O-360 piston engine which is derated to 145 hp maximum continuous power to protect the transmission, it first flew in March 2005.

Constructed mainly from carbon composite materials, the Cabri G2 is the most advanced training helicopter in the world and provides unrivalled occupant safety in its class.

Development of the Cabri G2 was preceded by a prototype Cabri G2-01, which flew for the first time in April 1992.

In 2006, the Cabri G2 set three world records in the sub-500 kg helicopter class. Altitude without a payload 6,658 m (21,844 ft); time to climb to a height of 3000 m (9840 ft) in 6 min 42 secs, and time to climb to a height of 6000 m (19680 ft) in 22 min 6 sec.

It was awarded an EASA Type Certificate in December 2007. The first production aircraft was delivered at the end of 2008 to Ixair (France). Two helicopters have been ordered by Eurocopter for basic training, the first of which was delivered in December 2009. The company has also signed a deal with Eurocopter to develop an unmanned variant. To date Guimbal have delivered approximately 130 aircraft that have flown in excess of 70,000 fleet hours between them.

The Gazelle Squadron Cabri was purchased from the UK importers for Guimbal, Cotswold Helicopter Centre in 2015. It is serial number 1110 and is registered G-SDTL. The paint scheme was designed as a tribute to the RAF 32 Squadron colours. The Cabri exhibits very similar handling to the Gazelle so G-SDTL is used by the Gazelle Squadron mainly for the role of flight training.