Eurocopter's EC155 made its first appearance in the UK at October's Helitech show. The helicopter's introduction into the UK market was previously via the display of a full scale mock-up at a number of events. The EC155 was the guest of McAlpine Helicopters, Eurocopter's sole UK distributor. McAlpine claims that the EC155, which is aimed at the corporate and offshore markets, "will offer existing operators a highly credible alternative and advance on existing vvip types." \rDeveloped from the AS 365 Dauphin but utilising a five-bladed main rotor system and an enlarged cabin, the EC155 is said to feature particularly low levels of cabin volume, lots of baggage space, high speed and low external noise. This, along with the Avionique Nouvelle System from Sextant Avionique, comprises what McAlpine calls "a well balanced capability."\rAround 70 visitors at Helitech were granted a lift in the type and a small number of visitors were allowed to fly the helicopter, under the watchful eye of a Eurocopter test pilot. According to McAlpine, initial responses were "highly enthusiastic with repeated praise for the vibration-free cabin and handling qualities."\r"We didn't expect to sell an EC155 at Helitech, since it is such a new model," said John Osmond, marketing manager at McAlpine. "The UK certified version won't be ready for one or two years. We have brought the real thing to the UK, and the hard work begins here. We expect to sell between eight and 15 EC155s in the UK over the next five or six years; it's not going to happen all at once," McAlpine concluded.\rThree EC155s are in service with Germany's border guards where experience of the type is reported to be very positive. McAlpine also announced the sale of one EC120 Colibri, the smaller cousin of the EC155, at Helitech and two more sales shortly after the exhibition. Said sales director David Lewis: "Demand for information on the Colibri has been enormous and I am delighted to say that we will shortly make further announcements about EC120 sales in the near future."