The story
The Bo 105 broke two rules at once: it was the first light helicopter with two engines, and its rigid titanium rotor head made it fully aerobatic. Air ambulances loved the safety, militaries loved the agility, and airshow crowds still watch Bo 105s do things helicopters shouldn't do.
Its four rotor blades bolt to a single solid block of titanium with no hinges at all, which is why a Bo 105 can fly loops and rolls. Red Bull has flown one on the airshow circuit.
Quick answers
How do you identify a Bo 105?
Compact egg-shaped cabin, skids, high tail boom with a small fin. Clamshell rear doors are the giveaway — ambulance versions load stretchers straight in the back.
What does a Bo 105 sound like?
A crisp, buzzy twin-turbine note with fast, hard rotor slap.
How fast is the Bo 105?
Top speed is 131 kts.
How many people does the Bo 105 carry?
Typical configuration: 1-2 crew + 3-4 passengers.
How far can the Bo 105 fly?
Range is about 310 nmi.
How big is the Bo 105?
It is 38 ft 11 in long and 32 ft 4 in across the rotor.
When did the Bo 105 first fly?
Its first flight was in 1967.
How many Bo 105s have been built?
1,640 built.
What do crews call the Bo 105?
The Bo.
How rare is a Bo 105 in Bogey?
COMMON. Everyday traffic. You will catch plenty of these, and every first catch still counts. Your first Bo 105 catch is worth 25 points.
