A Eurocopter EC120B Colibri helicopter, equipped with an all glass-cockpit, has been delivered to to its proud new owner, private pilot Shawn Murray. The state-of-the-art creation of avionics technology was produced at Eurocopter Canada's plant in Fort Erie, Ontario.

Murray's craft is the first of a number of glass cockpits Eurocopter has developed for the light corporate market. The EC120B features two SAGEM ICDS-8 Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Display navigational information monitors featuring display data from the Garmin GNS 430 that incorporates GPS, Com, VOR, LOC, and glide-slope with color moving map data. The EC120B's glass instrument panel is fitted with standard navigational equipment as a backup.

"I was planning to buy used competitors aircraft, but after visiting with an AStar-flying friend in Montreal, I was convinced to buy a brand new machine," says Murray.

"I'll be using it to fly between my home, work, and other locations. Since I'll be taking the family much of the time and our large dog, I wanted the kind of open, unobstructed cabin that the EC120B provides. I don't just want to be the pilot; I want everybody to be part of the flight."

The Eurocopter sports a Fenestron tail rotor, room for five - along with their gear - and is equipped with a single Turbomeca Arrius 2F turbine engine. The cost with customization ... $1.5 million.

Photo by Eurocopter Canada.