We knew him a code name, X4, its presumed size (5 tonnes) and some artists views more or less misleading. Helicopters Airbus has finally presented this Tuesday, March 3 at Heli-Expo in Orlando its new device on the segment of medium helicopters. The H160, the first device launched since the former Eurocopter joined the umbrella brand Airbus, starting in 2018 to succeed the legendary but aging Dauphin, delivered to around 1,100 copies in forty years. “Safety, reliability, effiacité, operating costs … The H160 will be the best device of its range on all criteria, including lower fuel consumption by 15 to 20% to competitors,” says the group’s CEO, William Faury .
The goal is clear: with this machine of the class of 5-6 tons, on which Airbus Helicopters has invested around one billion euros, the former Eurocopter wants regain a foothold in the market for medium helicopters, the real Achilles heel. Airbus, which held 40% of the market at the time of the splendor of the Dauphin, thus fallen to around 15% in recent years, following the lightning offensive rival Italian AgustaWestland. It is riding the success of his bestseller AW139 (over 800 orders), it now comes in a range of medium helicopters, with the AW189
A new engine
Airbus, the world leader in civilian helicopters (6, 5 billion euros of turnover), can he turn the corner with his new machine? Guillaume Faury is convinced “Our device is a ‘AW139 killer’, insists there we looked at what technologies could make to the client, and integrated the most useful.”. The H160, the first flight is expected this year and entry into service in 2018, is well equipped with ultra-profiled blades, called Blue Edge, the ends look a bit like boomerangs. “This system reduces noise by 50% compared to current devices, and payload increased by 100 pounds,” said Aurélie Gensolen, in charge of marketing the device.
The machine resumes also the famous “small window” (see photo), the shrouded tail rotor invented by the former Eurocopter. It is inclined approximately 12 degrees, which allows better performance in hover. The device also has small fins at the back, the “biplane stabilizer” in house jargon, a patented system that allows easier low-speed control. The H160 can also count on an engine 100% brand new, the Arrano developed by the French Turbomeca. The subsidiary of the Safran group, which had to share the market with its US rival Pratt & amp; Whitney was finally chosen in February as the sole engine of H160.
No room for error
The aircraft, very technologically advanced, however, is not quite the revolution announced by former CEO Lutz Bertling, evoking late 2011 device “as revolutionary as the A320 in its time.” Upon his arrival in 2013, the new CEO Guillaume Faury has been cleaning technology built into the unit, giving particular electrical flight controls, futuristic cockpit earlier drafts, or fins at the front of the device. “We started with the customers’ needs, rather than pour into the gadget innovation,” said the officer. This has not prevented the group to treat the design of the aircraft, given for the first time to an internal design studio led by ex-Peugeot Guillaume Chielens.
The Airbus boss Helicopters knows he has no room for error: the segment of medium helicopters is estimated at 150 or even 200 helicopters per year from 2018. “The Dauphin had 40% market share in its heyday, we aim to restore this position, “says Bernard Fujarski, the boss of the program. This range of helicopters allows both missions in the oil and gas sector, in the VIP transport or rescue missions called SAR (Search & amp; Rescue).
Airbus as a luxury consultant
Airbus has nothing left to chance. The ground tests have already started in a brand new building, cylindrical monster 3,000 m3 of concrete and 2,000 tons of steel in the heart of the group’s headquarters in Marignane. The big brother of Toulouse, the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, was even called in reinforcements as a luxury consultant to ensure a more effective development. The former Eurocopter, which relies on a team of 600 people dedicated to H160, was so inspired by multiplying the A350 program of test devices: two on the ground and in flight four, three prototypes and pre-series helicopters. “The goal is to have a mature helicopter from its entry into service,” said Bernard Fujarski. History avoid the disappointments of the EC175, the latest in the range.
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