Rotor Torque

In order to keep development costs down, the X3 is a blend of the AS365 N3 Dauphin fuselage, EC155 main rotor, EC175 gearbox, NH 90 engines, and features the twin fin tail from the EC145 but without the tail rotor. It also features two forward facing five-bladed props mounted on stub wing sponsons on the upper fuselage which are driven by shafts from the main gearbox.

The X3 can change the speed of its main rotor in flight, avoiding drag divergence on the advancing blade and increasing the stall speed of the retreating blade, while also reducing noise. The small stub wings unload the main rotor at speed, thus allowing for the reduced main rotor rpm.

“Innovation is at the core of Eurocopter’s strategy to continue its leadership in the global helicopter sector, and the X3 demonstrator represents a key element of our innovation roadmap,” Lutz Bertling, Eurocopter’s President & CEO said in a statement. “The teams at Eurocopter took this hybrid helicopter from concept to first flight in less than three years, which demonstrates their skills, capabilities and dedication to defining the future of rotary-wing aircraft.”

Initial testing of the X3 will continue until December where the flight envelope will be gradually expanded to speeds of 180kts. In 2011, the aircraft will attempt to achieve sustained speeds on 220kts.

Spain Requests More Seahawks

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a possible sale of six refurbished former US Navy SH-60F Seahawk helicopters to Spain.

The notification comes after a request from Spain for the aircraft as well as engines, inspections and modifications, spare parts, support and training equipment, and technical publications. Spain already operates 12 S-70B Seahawks.
Total cost of the package is estimated at US$155m (A$161m).

Sweden To Order 15 Black Hawks

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a possible sale of 15 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawks and associated support equipment and training to Sweden in a package valued at US$546m (A$564m).

The notification follows an urgent request from Sweden for the aircraft to support its commitment to the NATO mission in Afghanistan.
Interestingly, the Black Hawk order comes despite Sweden being a customer for the NH 90, perhaps indicating that aircraft may be some way from being declared operational.

Bell Makes First 429 Sale In China

Bell Helicopter has announced that it has received its first sale of a 429 in China during a sales tour in Zhuhai recently. The 429 has been sold to prominent industrialist Ren Jianjun, who also owns and operates a Bell 206B-3 JetRanger.

Meanwhile, Bell Helicopter has announced the certification of a precision Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) enabled glide path capability on the 429.

The WAAS certifies the 429, currently the only helicopter available with the technology, for nine degree localiser precision with vertical guidance (LPV) approaches at a minimum velocity for instrument procedures (Vmini) of 45kt, allowing the aircraft to fly LPV procedures in steep approach conditions.

Bell says the solution will increase helicopter safety through obstacle avoidance, mission efficiency and environmental sensitivity, while reducing precision approach limitations and associated operational costs.

Australian Aviation test flew the 429 recently during its Australian sales tour and a comprehensive Airtest featured in our October issue.

Ah-1z Cleared For Usmc Service

The Bell AH-1Z Cobra helicopter has successfully completed its operational evaluation and has been deemed “operationally effective and suitable”.

“This marks a significant milestone for the program,” said COL Harry Hewson, program manager for US Marine light and attack helicopters. “The AH-1Z has come a long way through development and it has finally proven itself as a lethal and reliable attack helicopter. The Marines in the fleet are very eager to get their hands on the ‘Zulu’ and get it into the fight.”

The AH-1Z is a substantial redesign of the AH-1W Super Cobra, and shares 84 per cent common parts with the similar UH-1Y upgrade of the UH-1N. Both were developed under the USMC’s H-1 Upgrade Program which will see both 189 new build and remanufactured AH-1Zs delivered to 2021.

Australian Mrh 90 Program Progresses

Australian Aerospace reports the company is on track to deliver the 16th MRH90 helicopter to the ADF on schedule by the end of the year.
Despite a three month grounding of the fleet earlier this year following an engine failure, the 13th MRH 90 was delivered on September 3, and another three are scheduled to follow by year end.

“The engine manufacturer, Rolls-Royce Turbomeca, is currently working with the ADF on the root cause, and, in the meantime, the MRH 90s have resumed flying operations,” Australian Aerospace CEO, Dr Jens Goennemann, said in a statement. “Two helicopters have been accepted since the resumption of flying and the MRH 90 delivery, testing and training program is now building momentum.”

The ADF has 46 MRH 90s on order. The first 13 aircraft have been built to Product Baseline (PBL) standard 01 and 02, and will require further work to bring them up to the definitive PBL 03 standard. Aircraft 14 onwards will all be built to the PBL 03 standard, which includes enhanced avionics, the latest software loads, and a strengthened cabin floor.

Mh-60r/s To Get Jmps

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a US$10m (A$10.5m) contract to develop software for the MH-60R ‘Romeo’ and MH-60S ‘Sierra’ helicopters to support the Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS).

JMPS replaces older mission planning systems and uses commercial-off-the-shelf architecture that will standardise how mission flightplans are filed across the US military.

“The MH-60 module will give Navy Seahawk pilots access to the military’s most advanced mission planning tool, allowing pilots to easily capture and load preplanned data in a format compatible between both helicopter types,” George Barton, Lockheed Martin’s director of naval helicopter programs said. “Once airborne, the aircraft’s avionics will know what mission to prosecute, the intended route and navigation waypoints to use, the communications frequencies, weapons and sensors it will employ, as well as other critical information.”

The system will be developed and tested over the next 30 months and is planned for deployment in late 2012.

New Aerial For Bell 206 Series

Aeronautical Accessories is now offering a new vertical fin antenna mount for the Bell 407, 206B and 206L, which it says has a number of safety benefits.

“By repositioning the antenna out from under the main rotor blades and adding optional anti-collision lights to the aircraft this product provides Bell 407 and 206 operators with a tool that enhances preventative safety measures, reduces the weight of the existing system and helps them more effectively complete their mission,” said Mike Bednar, vice president Aeronautical Accessories.

Other benefits of the vertical fin antenna include improved signal reception, additional area for other antennas and a provision for an anti-collision light to be fitted to the belly of the aircraft.

Another A160t Crashes

A Boeing A160T unmanned helicopter, dubbed YMQ-18A by the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM), has crashed while undergoing foliage penetrating radar tests in the Central American country of Belize.

The aircraft, owned by SOCOM but operated by Boeing contractors, reportedly lost tail rotor authority on approach to landing and crashed on the edge of a clearing. There was no fire and nobody was injured in the crash.

A statement from SOCOM said the trial would be ended but that 90 to 95 per cent of the demonstration’s test objectives had already been met during 90 hours of flight time in 28 flights.

The Belize crash follows the loss of another A160T in California in July.

First Major Assembly For Ch-53k Delivered

GKN Aerospace has announced the delivery of the first major structural assembly for the Sikorsky CH-53K heavy lift helicopter.

The six metre long aft transition fuselage section features an advanced hybrid composite, aluminium and titanium structure covered with external composite skins, and has been built under a multi-year System Design & Development (SDD) contract in which GKN Aerospace was awarded design authority and manufacturing responsibility for the aft transition fuselage section, cargo ramp, and overhead door structural assemblies.

The CH-53K is an advanced and scaled up development of the successful CH-53 series and will replace the CH-53D and E is US Navy and Marine Corps service from 2018.

Eurocopter/kannad Win Award For Beacon

A new integrated helicopter distress beacon jointly developed by Eurocopter and Kannad has been recognised with the ‘High Technology’ award at an industry conference during the MEDEF Summer University in Paris.

The beacon, dubbed Integra, features an integrated antenna and GPS which sends out a crashed aircraft’s coordinates to search and rescue agencies.

“We are especially proud to receive this distinction, which recognises our innovation strategy and our technological leadership in the distress beacon market,” commented Jean Yves Courtois, CEO of the Orolia Group, Kanad’s parent company. “For Kannad, the partnership with Eurocopter allowed us to define the functional characteristics of the product to best meet the clients’ needs, and to test the product in real life conditions thanks to the technical methods and materials that Eurocopter has available. At the same time, we have benefited from an exclusive licence carrying the Eurocopter patent.”

“This improves the efficiency of search and rescue agencies in locating helicopters in difficulty or in emergency situations,” added Claudius Zwicker, Eurocopter’s senior vice president of avionics systems. “Thanks to this partnership, Eurocopter now has a new technology that provides the most reliable pinpointing of helicopters in critical situations.”

A new commercial team has been established to market Integra in North America.