Pic: Eurocopters' new X3 high-speed long range helicopter..

[Stratofreighter]

is an official Eurocopter image.

http://www.key.aero/view_news.asp?ID=25 ... on=general

Eurocopter has begun test flights of its X3 High-speed, long-range Hybrid Helicopter (H3) concept.

September 27:

Eurocopter has begun test flights of its X3 High-speed, long-range Hybrid Helicopter (H3) concept, which is intended to cruise at speeds of more than 220kts.

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.

Eurocopter sees a wide range of roles for the concept including long-distance search and rescue (SAR) missions, coast guard duties, border patrol missions, passenger transport and inter-city shuttle services.

It also may be well-suited for military missions in Special Forces operations, troop transport, combat SAR and medical evacuation.

The X3 demonstrator’s first flight was on September 6 in southern France at the Istres DGA Flight Testing Centre, operated by the French DGA government agency.

Initial testing will continue through December with reduced power, progressively opening the flight envelope to speeds of approximately 180kts.

After a three-month upgrade, X3 flights will resume in March 2011 with the goal of reaching sustained cruise speeds in excess of 220kts.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... opter.html has more photos.

DATE:27/09/10
SOURCE:Flightglobal.com

PICTURES: Eurocopter unveils high-speed hybrid helicopter
By Dan Thisdell

Eurocopter has made clear it has no intention of letting rivals loosen its grip on the civil rotorcraft market with the unveiling of its much-anticipated high-technology solution to the challenge of boosting helicopter speeds.

Eurocopter's answer to the Sikorsky X2 pusher or Bell-Boeing V22 Osprey tiltrotor is the H3 - High-speed Hybrid Helicopter - concept, which features a five-blade main rotor for vertical lift and single propellers mounted to short fixed wings either side for speed, with Eurocopter promising sustained cruise at more than 220kts.


The H3 demonstrator, called X3, has been flying at the French DGA's Istres flight testing centre since 6 September.

Initial testing will continue through December with reduced power, progressively opening the flight envelope to approximately 180kt (330km/h).

Then, after a three-month upgrade, X3 flights will resume in March 2011 with the goal of reaching 220kt in sustained cruise.

Chief executive Lutz Bertling says the Eurocopter approach is to extend range and boost speed without an excessive penalty in acquisition and operating costs which, he contends, is not the case with the tiltrotor approach:
"It only makes sense if what you gain in speed is not overcompensated by what you add in costs."

Eurocopter sees the H3 configuration proving suitable for long-range search and rescue, coastguard duties, border patrol, passenger transport and inter-city shuttle services.

Military applications benefiting from vertical take-off and landing and cruise speed could include special forces operations, troop transport, combat SAR and medical evacuation.

"This is the future of Eurocopter," says Bertling.

To keep development costs down, the EADS-owned rotorcraft manufacturer has adapted existing components for the X3, including the airframe (from the Dauphin 365),
main rotor (EC155) and main gearbox module (EC175), which has had lateral take-offs added for the lateral propulsion propellers.

[BaasG]

I see a candidate for most ugly helicopter of the year...

[Copter]

Damn, even more ugly than the EC.175 ......

Found this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QECbSxGpXak

[Hurricane]

; ad a Mi-2, EC155, Ce-337 and AB-609 together, wheck them in a blender and this pops out

[Capt JB]

Guys,

Remember the Fairey Rotodyne, in the 50s, was later cancelled for lack of funding from the UK government, but was a full size Eurocopter X3, with main rotor and two lateral propellers.
Same configuration, with of course many technical differences.
Eurocopter plans are for a 30 seats aircraft in that configuration, but as tradition Eurocopter will validate all data with a concept aircraft (the X3), then pass to prototyping step, and full size trials, if the market study shows a real need for this kind of aircraft.
Personnaly I believe it would, because the tilt-rotor configuration has a lot to resolve even if US Marine sings "happy with MV-22B, but Agusta still in trials with the BA609, when a "normal helicopter" gains certification in less than two years...!!!

[SquAdmin]

even if US Marine sings "happy with MV-22B, but Agusta still in trials with the BA609, when a "normal helicopter" gains certification in less than two years...!!!

I seriously doubt if the US Marines are really happy with the MV-22. Too many incidents and problems if you ask me...

It looks like Eurocopter is looking for a different approach, the X-3 has both vertical and horizontal propellers instead of a combination like the MV-22's tiltrotors. Anyway, it's nice too see there's some real innovation in the heloworld because the concept hadn't changed a lot in all those years...

[Capt JB]

I agree that USMC happiness is a little too much, but based on what they are saying,the MV-22 is a new aircraft and has of course some problems to solve. But USMC do not speak about the engine upgrade for which they have not found solution yet, and which should put them in problems soon or later.
On other hand the X3 (should say X cube) is another approche based on the Fairey rotordyne example, and which should be a lot more efficient in the military and civil market.
All short distance (European distance) flight from small cities where an airport is out of question could be solved by this aircraft - imagine a flight direct to Monaco from Paris, Geneva, Amsterdam, etc..Now you need to go to Nice, then take a helicopter to Monaco..!!!