Eurocopter has begun test flights of the X3 demonstrator for its innovative high-speed, long-range Hybrid Helicopter (H3) concept.
The X3 demonstrator first flew on September 6 in southern France at the Istres Center of “DGA Flight Testing”, which is operated by the French DGA government agency and ensures a secure and controlled environment.
The H3 concept combines excellent vertical take-off and landing capabilities with fast cruise speeds of more than 220 knots. The X3 demonstrator is equipped with two turboshaft engines that power a five-blade main rotor system and two propellers installed on short-span fixed wings.
By doing this the X3 can offer the speed of a turboprop-powered aircraft and the full hover flight capabilities of a helicopter. The concept is tailored to applications where operational costs, flight duration and mission success depend directly on the maximum cruising speed.
A wide range of utilisations are envisaged for the H3 configuration, including long-distance search and rescue (SAR) missions, coast guard duties, border patrol missions, passenger transport and inter-city shuttle services. It may also be well-suited for some military missions.
“The X3 demonstrator represents a key element of our innovation roadmap,” Eurocopter’s President and CEO Lutz Bertling said. “The teams at Eurocopter took this hybrid helicopter from concept to first flight in less than three years, which demonstrates their skills, capabilities and dedication to defining the future of rotary-wing aircraft.”
Initial testing of the X3 demonstrator will continue through December with reduced power, progressively opening the flight envelope to speeds of approximately 180 knots. After a three-month upgrade, X3 flights will resume in March 2011 with the goal of reaching sustained cruise speeds in excess of 220 knots.
The X3 Demonstrator. (Eurocopter)
