Aircraft is a Eurocopter (formerly MBB) BO-105. About 300+ hours in type myself. Fully aerobatic capable. All the fluid systems capable of sustaining inverted flight (why? I don't have a clue).
The rotor head is a solid piece of milled titanium. No hinges/bearing surfaces on the rotor, rather the whole blade root bends/twists. The downside to this system is you better damn well have hydraulic power or you are screwed big time. No amount of physical force on the flight controls will help if you suffer loss of hydraulics. Fortunately, the aircraft had dual hydraulic power packs, manifolds, actuators, etc.
The cyclic has an especially short range of motion - and it's basically flown with thetrim buttons - no "force trim" button. CG is pretty far forward too so landing with no wind you often run out of aft cyclic.
The seats and seat rail interestingly are stressed for negative G - the Germans overbuilt the hell out of this machine. The airframe is a tank.
Engines are nothing special - same motors as on your TH-57 only there are two of them. Torque limited just like the '57 too. Engine controls are on roof mounted levers instead of twist grip. Starting was a pin - the engine start switches are on the center lower console and it was a bit of an acrobatic feet to start engines - holding the spring loaded start witch with one hand and using the engine control lever with the other - no ergonomics here.
OH and all single piloted!
Not a great cockpit for tall guys!
Rugged, could carry a decent load and the bubble shape made it fast - 140-150 KIAS at 5500 LBS.
