X-3 with a French Alpha Jet (© Anthony Pecchi - 2013 ) Airbus Helicopter's X3 hybrid helicopter demonstrator will be exhibited at th...
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| X-3 with a French Alpha Jet (© Anthony Pecchi - 2013) |
The X3 will be exhibited in the musée de l’Air et de l’Espace’s hangar facilities with other high-speed legends including supersonic Concorde jetliners and Airbus Helicopters S.A. 3210-01 Super Frelon helicopter, which 50 years earlier set a world speed record of 350 km/hr.
The X3 hybrid helicopter, first took-off in September 2010, demonstrated Airbus’s high-speed, long-range, Hybrid Helicopter (H3) concept.
On June 7, 2013, X3 set a level flight speed record of 255 knots (472 km/hr), the highest speed reached by a helicopter.
During its 3 years, full flight envelope in cruise, climb, at altitude and during descent were explored, clocking more than 155 flight test hours in 199 flights. The rotorcraft demonstrated outstanding stability, better piloting characteristics, as well as low vibration levels without the need for anti-vibration systems.
The X3 hybrid concept, featured a pair of turboshaft engines to power both a five-blade helicopter main rotor and two propellers installed on short-span fixed wings.
The X3 was based on Airbus Helicopter's Dauphin helicopter airframe, providing a with a maximum take-off weight of 5,200 kg.
Airbus Helicopters foresees to develop the X3 concept into an advanced, cost-effective vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) transportation system with speeds of a turboprop-powered aircraft and the full-flight capabilities of a helicopter.
