Airbus Helicopters Airbus Helicopters has successfully completed the first flight test of a H120 demonstrator helicopter equipped with...
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| Airbus Helicopters |
Airbus Helicopters has successfully completed the first flight test of a H120 demonstrator helicopter equipped with a high-compression diesel engine on Friday, November 6th, from its facility in Marignane Airport, France.
The development and flight test program, part of the European Clean Sky initiative’s Green Rotorcraft Integrated Technology Demonstrator (ITD) , aims to develop piston engine alternatives to replace the less fuel efficient gas turbine engines currently used, even though the latter have excellent power to weight ratio. Turbine engines were used since the empty weight is critical.
The single engined H120 was powered by a 330 kW, 4.6-liter high-compression piston engine developed by TEOS Powertrain Engineering and Austro Engine GmbH and runs on the widely-available kerosene fuel used in aviation engines. Engine design goal had a targeted weight of 250 kg.
The V8 engine has the two sets of cylinders oriented at a 90 deg. angle to each other, with a high-pressure (1800 bar) common-rail direct injection and one turbocharger per cylinder bank.
Tomasz Krysinski, Head of Research and Innovation at Airbus Helicopters said the first result of the 30 minutes flight confirms the advantages of new-technology high-compression piston engines for rotorcraft in offering reduced emissions; up to 50% lower fuel consumption depending on duty cycle, nearly doubled range and enhanced operations in hot and high conditions.
The flight test campaign will enable to establish the engine installation at Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL 6).
The engine features include fully-machined aluminum blocks and titanium connecting rods, pistons and liners made of steel, liquid-cooling and a dry sump management method for the lubricating motor oil as used on aerobatic aircraft and race cars.
Airbus Helicopters’ high-compression piston engine activity began in 2011, followed by company bench tests and system simulations, including Iron Bird successful tests in February 2014. Ground runs with the H120-equipped helicopter were performed during February and March of this year, leading to the first flight.
The Green Rotorcraft ITD program that supported Airbus Helicopters’ research project is part of the Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative, which is Europe’s most ambitious aeronautical research program ever. Clean Sky’s goal is to develop breakthrough technologies that significantly increase environmental performance of the air transport sector, resulting in quieter and more fuel efficient aircraft and rotorcraft. Environmental targets of Clean Sky are to reduce specific fuel consumption by 30 percent, CO2 emissions by 40 percent and NOx by 53 percent.
The V8 engine has the two sets of cylinders oriented at a 90 deg. angle to each other, with a high-pressure (1800 bar) common-rail direct injection and one turbocharger per cylinder bank.
The flight test campaign will enable to establish the engine installation at Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL 6).
The engine features include fully-machined aluminum blocks and titanium connecting rods, pistons and liners made of steel, liquid-cooling and a dry sump management method for the lubricating motor oil as used on aerobatic aircraft and race cars.
Airbus Helicopters’ high-compression piston engine activity began in 2011, followed by company bench tests and system simulations, including Iron Bird successful tests in February 2014. Ground runs with the H120-equipped helicopter were performed during February and March of this year, leading to the first flight.
The Green Rotorcraft ITD program that supported Airbus Helicopters’ research project is part of the Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative, which is Europe’s most ambitious aeronautical research program ever. Clean Sky’s goal is to develop breakthrough technologies that significantly increase environmental performance of the air transport sector, resulting in quieter and more fuel efficient aircraft and rotorcraft. Environmental targets of Clean Sky are to reduce specific fuel consumption by 30 percent, CO2 emissions by 40 percent and NOx by 53 percent.
