A New 250-Mph Airbus Helicopter Is Coming in 2020
Say hello to Airbus's new Racer craft, unveiled at the 2017 Paris Air Show.
The Racer, or Rapid And Cost-Effective Rotorcraft, can hit a cruising speed around 250 mph thanks to what Airbus calls an innovative, new "box-wing" design. A typical helicopter currently flies around 160 mph. The Racer's box-wing design, coupled with a light hybrid metallic-composite airframe, provides extra lift. Pusher propellers will increase speed while the helo is moving forward.
Airbus focused its design strategy in two places: increasing speed while keeping the sound down. To that end, its lateral rotors will be powered by two RTM 322 engines from the French company Safran. These are military-grade engines that Airbus previously used in its X3 demonstrator. The X3, Airbus says in a press release, "validated the 'compound' aerodynamic configuration – a combination of a traditional main rotor and innovative lateral rotors," which the Racer will duplicate.
The French aerial giant also plans to add an "eco mode" mode to the craft, showing the possibility of electrically powered "start and stop" mechanics in an aircraft engine to save fuel and increase range (by running just one of the two engines at times). "It will pave the way for new time-sensitive services for 2030 and beyond, setting new benchmarks for high-speed helicopter transportation," says Guillaume Faury, Airbus Helicopters CEO, in a press statement.
The company hopes to spend 2019 building Racers and have them in the air by 2020.
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