Wed, Jun 26, 2019
Plan To Perform The First Flight Of Hybrid Light Helicopter Demonstrator In 2020
Airbus Helicopters and the French Ministry for Transport (DGAC) have announced the launch of a research project aimed at demonstrating the use of a hybrid propulsion system on board a single-engine helicopter testbed. This initiative, which will lead to the first flight of a demonstrator in 2020, will focus on the integration of an electric backup system on the testbed helicopter in order to power the rotor system for up to 30 seconds, without the use of the main gas turbine.
As part of this research program, this concept will be matured to a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, bringing it closer to potential certification and industrialisation. The demonstration package will include an electric motor provided by Thales, a battery pack developed by Airbus Defence and Space as well as electric converters provided by ADENEO. It will be installed and test-flown on an H130 single-engine testbed helicopter. The project will be jointly funded by DGAC and Airbus Helicopters.
“The helicopter industry is transforming at a fast pace and I’m very excited about this new partnership with DGAC which helps us prepare the future of vertical flight," said Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO. “If introduced on serial helicopters, this technology could deliver new standards in terms of safety by providing pilots of single-engine rotorcraft more flexibility to perform autorotation in case of an engine shutdown. Further evolutions of the same technology could also pave the way to a significant reduction in fuel consumption and sound levels, further increasing the acceptance of helicopters in urban environments.”
"This project will result in new technologies and a demonstrator that are essential for the development of a new generation of cleaner helicopters," said Elisabeth Borne, French Minister for Transport within the Ministry of Ecological and Inclusive Transition. "Thanks to the engagement of the French government and our business partners, France is demonstrating the leading role it intends to play for better environmental performance within our aviation sector."
(Source: Airbus news release)
More News
From 2016 (YouTube Edition): The Canadian Forces Snowbirds Can Best Be Described As ‘Elegant’… EAA AirVenture 2016 was a great show and, in no small part, it was>[...]
Airplane Lunged Forward When It Was Stuck From Behind By A Tug That Was Towing An Unoccupied Airliner Analysis: At the conclusion of the air taxi flight, the flight crew were taxii>[...]
Aero Linx: International Stinson Club So you want to buy a Stinson. Well the Stinson is a GREAT value aircraft. The goal of the International Stinson Club is to preserve informatio>[...]
Request Full Route Clearance Used by pilots to request that the entire route of flight be read verbatim in an ATC clearance. Such request should be made to preclude receiving an AT>[...]
"Today's battlefield is adapting rapidly. By teaching our soldiers to understand how drones work and are built, we are giving them the skills to think creatively and apply emerging>[...]
Classic Aero-TV: Pure Aerial Precision - The Snowbirds at AirVenture 2016
See All