Airbus Helicopters: A Year of Firsts
Airbus Helicopters is using “FlightLab” demonstrators to test new technologies that could later equip its current and future eVTOLs, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft.
“In 2023 we celebrated the first flights of the second flying laboratory, the DisruptiveLab,” said Tomasz Krysinski, the company’s VP of research and innovation. The DisruptiveLab is a concept helicopter that is testing a new architecture to improve aircraft performance while reducing fuel consumption up to 50%, while a fully parallel hybrid propulsion system enables the battery to be recharged in-flight. It first flew in January 2023.
“In September 2023 Airbus Helicopters
unveiled PioneerLab, its new twin-engine technology demonstrator based on the H145 platform,” Krysinski said. “The PioneerLab aims to demonstrate a fuel reduction of up to 30% compared to a conventional H145, thanks to a hybrid electric propulsion system and aerodynamic improvements.” Meanwhile, the company’s FlightLab demonstrator successfully tested an electric flight control system in preparation for a new human machine interface (HMI) that will equip CityAirbus NextGen, Airbus’ eVTOL prototype.
Airbus Helicopters’ VSR700 UAV was operationally tested from a ship at sea in May 2023. It performed 80 fully autonomous takeoffs and landings from a civilian ship’s helicopter deck. The company has also started building its CityAirbus NextGen 4-seater eVTOL, with a test flight planned for 2024.
ASU Wins “Coolest Thing Made in Idaho” Award
Aviation Specialties Unlimited’s (ASU) E3 Lightweight Aviation Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) are officially the “Coolest Thing Made in Idaho,” at least according to an award presented to ASU by the Idaho Manufacturing Alliance and Idaho Power.
The reason: ASU’s E3 Lightweight Aviation NVG is 30% lighter than legacy NVGs. It features state-of-the-art P-45 white phosphor image intensifier tubes, and it is compatible with legacy ANVIS mounts and battery packs. The lighter weight “significantly decreases neck strain on pilots and crew members,” said ASU President Joseph Estrera. “The aviation community has been requesting such a solution for years, and we are thrilled to bring it to them. We are gearing up to introduce these goggles to the industry in 2024.”
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