Eurocopter X3

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The Eurocopter X3 (X-Cubed) is an experimental high-speed compound helicopter under development by Eurocopter. On 20 June 2013 a Bloomberg L.P. special video report stated that the X3 is the World's Fastest Helicopter by reaching a top speed of 472 km/h on several test flights.[1]

Design and development

Eurocopter X3

The X3 demonstrator is based on a Eurocopter EC155 helicopter with the addition of short span wings each fitted with a tractor propeller. The tractor propellers are gear driven from the two main turboshaft engines which also drive the five-bladed main rotor. The helicopter is designed to prove the concept of a high-speed helicopter which depends on the slowing down of the rotor speed to avoid drag from the advancing blade tip, and to avoid retreating blade stall by unloading the rotor while a small wing[2] is intended to provide up to 80% lift instead.[3]

The X3 first flew on 6 September 2010 from French Délégation Générale de l'Armement facility at Istres-Le Tubé Air Base. On 12 May 2011 the X3 flew at a speed of 430 km/h (267 mph) for several minutes.[4][5]

Conventional helicopters use tail rotors to counter the torque effect of the main rotor. The starboard propeller of the X3 has a higher rotational speed than the port to counter the torque effect.[6]

Eurocopter intends to demonstrate the X3 in the USA in summer 2012. A product using X3 technology may come in 2020.[7]

On 12 May 2011 it demonstrated a speed of 232 knots (267 mph; 430 km/h).[8][9]

On 2 June 2013 it demonstrated a speed of 255 knots (293 mph; 472 km/h)[10][11] beating Sikorsky X2's world record, becoming the fastest compound helicopter as of June 2013.

Specifications

Eurocopter X3 at ILA Berlin Air Show 2012

Data from FlightGlobal[12] NOTE: No other specifications have been released by Eurocopter.

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 turboshaft engines, 1,693 kW (2,270 hp) each
  • Propellers: 2-bladed five-bladed tractor propellers gear driven from main engines.

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 472 km/h; 293 mph (255 kn) at roughly 10,000 ft (3,048 m)[11]
  • Cruising speed: 407 km/h (253 mph; 220 kn) [8]
  • Service ceiling: 3,810 m (12,500 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 28 m/s (5,500 ft/min) [13][14][15]

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists
  • List of helicopters

References

  1. ↑ Bloomberg Video: Meet the World's Fastest Helicopter: The 293-Mph X3 20 June 2013
  2. ↑ The X3 concept (video) at 2m50s EuroCopter. Accessed: 7 February 2011.
  3. ↑ Norris, Guy. Eurocopter X-3 Targets U.S. Market Aviation Week, 28 February 2012. Accessed: 1 March 2012. Mirror
  4. ↑ "L’Hélicoptère de démonstration X3 atteint les 430km/h !" (in French). Avia News. 
  5. ↑ "Le X3 d'Eurocopter a volé à 430 km/h" (in French). Zone Militaire. 
  6. ↑ "Eurocopter X3 (X Cubed) Experimental Compound Helicopter". Military Factory. 
  7. ↑ Guy Norris (14 February 2012). "Eurocopter Outlines Plans For X4 Program". Aviation Week. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2012. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Flight testing of Eurocopter’s X3 high-speed hybrid helicopter demonstrator marks a new milestone in the company’s innovation roadmap". Eurocopter. 27 September 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2010. 
  9. ↑ "Eurocopters Hybridhubschrauber X3 übertrifft sein angestrebtes Geschwindigkeitsziel: 232 Knoten (430 km/h) bei stabilem Horizontalflug". Presse Box (in German). 2011-05-16. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  10. ↑ Le X3, un hélico à 472 km/h Le Monde
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 X3 Helicopter Sets Speed Record At Nearly 300 MPH Wired (magazine)
  12. ↑ John Croft (23 February 2009). "HELI-EXPO 2009: Rolls-Royce confirms role in Eurocopter X3 programme". Flight Global. Retrieved 28 September 2010. 
  13. ↑ http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/press/Eurocoptera-s-revolutionary-X3-helicopter-begins-military-leg-of-its-U.S.-tour_947.html
  14. ↑ Dubois, Thierry. Eurocopter Launches Dauphin Replacement; Preps for X3 Aviation Today, August 2011. Accessed: 31 March 2012.
  15. ↑ Dubois, Thierry & Huber, Mark. New Rotorcraft 2012 Aviation International, February 2012. Accessed: 31 March 2012.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Green, Ronald D. Flight Plan 2011 - Analysis of the U.S. Aerospace Industry, Rotorcraft Developments p18, U.S. Department of Commerce/International Trade Administration, March 2011. Accessed: 2 March 2012.

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