Airbus Helicopters revealed that its next-generation X4 medium class twin-engined rotorcraft will be unveiled at the 2015 Heli-Expo trad...
Airbus Helicopters revealed that its next-generation X4 medium class twin-engined rotorcraft will be unveiled at the 2015 Heli-Expo trade show in Orlando on March 3.
The 4-6 ton weight X4 is a new all composite helicopter design with a five-bladed main rotor, offering a 20% reduction in operating costs per passenger.
The X4 will replace the 40 year old AS365 Dauphin and the EC155 helicopters, and will be offered with two engine choices, Turbomeca 1,100 shp Arrano 1A or the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210.
Airbus says X4' first flight will be achieved in late 2015, followed by service entry in 2017.
Speaking at the annual event on Jan. 27 Airbus Helicopters president Guillaume Faury said “X4 is already a reality – we have a prototype and this helicopter will fly in 2015."
The X4' main rotor blade features the Blue Edge™ technology that provide a passive reduction in noise levels, using a double-swept shape that is very different from present-day blades.
The design reduces the noise generated by so-called blade-vortex interactions (BVI), which occur when a blade impacts a vortex, created at the tip of the blade of any helicopter.
Airbus has been flying a five-blade Blue Edge™ main rotor, since July 2007 on an EC155 testbed, logging more than 75 flight hours and demonstrating noise reductions of 3 to 4 dB, as well as very good performance of the blade.
Airbus Helicopters began X4 development in 2011, and the program achieved successful 'power-on' in December 2014.
Airbus announced selection of Liebherr to manufacture tail rotor gearbox and Italy’s Avio Aero for accessory gearboxes in 2014.
