Man for once in my life I can speak to a topic with more than just asking another question.
And here is the real story. The BK 117 is made by Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm and it has a Kawasaki transmission! A consortium by the name of Euro-Copter.
Now the reason I know is because I work
IN the back of one and I hear the schpeal every Monday to new employees who come to look at the Bird. We are also a factory Authorized maintenance facility for American Euro-Copter.
Now, having said all that it comes down to this. The most important part of the helicopter, next to the blades all staying on, is the transmission. If it seizes, we become like a rock in the air, much like if the blades fall off.
Engines can fail and we can get to the ground rather nicely and with a change of drawers be back to work the next day. If the tranny fails, well, we may or may not look so good in a suit stuffed in a box.
I just found another link that shows the same models listed as Kawasaki rather than MBB. They may have places where that is the case like Honda Trials Bikes cannot be imported in the US, but the Montesa a Spanish bike, the very same bike, can. But I can't verify the information on the site where I saw that.
BK117 911SM Duluth, Minnesota 
