INDUSTRY NEWS RELEVANT TO YOUR BUSINESS


and unparalleled technology of our X3 demonstrator, we are well positioned to bring this type of helicopter to the market in the next 10 years. Underscoring the X3’s maturity and


excellent handling characteristics, some guest pilots and observers were invited to fly aboard the demonstrator aircraft – an opportunity that was repeated during multiple demonstra­ tions organized by American Eurocopter at Grand Prairie with the oil and gas, public services, law enforce­ ment and medical airlift sectors. The X3 will then flew to Redstone Army Arsenal Airfield in Alabama; Fort Bragg’s Simmons Army Airfield in North Carolina; Virginia’s Manassas Regional Airport and military installations in the Washington, D.C. area.


tance search and rescue (SAR), Coast Guard missions, border patrol missions, passenger transport and off­shore air­ lift, along with inter­city shuttle servic­ es. It also is well­suited for military mis­ sions in special forces operations, troop transport, combat SAR and medical evacuation – benefitting from the com­ bination of higher cruise speeds with excellent vertical takeoff/landing per­ formance. Eurocopter began X3 flight testing in September 2010 from the Istres Flight


Test Center in southern France, where the aircraft easily surpassed its initial speed target of 220 kts.; reaching more than 230 kts. in level flight while using 80 percent of available power. Beyond confirming its excellent flight qualities, maneuverability, outstanding accelera­ tion and deceleration capabilities, the hybrid demonstrator has shown excep­ tional climb and descent rates along with very low vibration levels – all with­ out any need for passive or active anti­ vibration systems. 


Eurocopter’s aircraft configuration


for the X3 uses a pair of turboshaft engines to power a five­blade main rotor system, along with two propellers installed on short­span fixed wings. This concept is well adapted to missions requiring long transit flights and where speed is important, while retaining ver­ tical lift and hover capabilities – all at very affordable cost. The company envisions a wide range


of purposes for its hybrid technology in future products, including long­dis­


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