Eurocopter will give the first public flight presentations of its X3 hybrid helicopter and the EC175 helo at the 2011 Paris Air Show.
Eurocopter, a division of aerospace and defense company EADS, will also put on display at Le Bourget Airport its enhanced EC145 T2 and AS350 B3e helicopters; an AS565 Panther outfitted with the Stand Alone Weapon System (SAWS); the EC135 configured for law enforcement and customs missions; and a version of the EC175 tailored for search and rescue operations.
Lutz Bertling, Eurocopter’s President and CEO says, “the X3 is an excellent example of how we are preparing for the future...I am sure that professional visitors and the public alike will be impressed by the X3’s extraordinary flight demonstrations at this year’s Paris Air Show, which are unequalled in aviation.”
The X3 demonstrator is powered by a five-blade main rotor system and two propellers on short-span fixed wings – a combination that delivers excellent vertical takeoff and landing capabilities of a helicopter, along with aircraft-type fast cruise speeds and maneuverability, Bertling says.
Eurocopter anticipates a wide range of utilizations for the X3 hybrid helicopter concept, including long-distance search and rescue (SAR) missions, coast guard duties, border patrol missions, passenger transport, offshore operations and inter-city shuttle services.
The EC175 helo, developed jointly by Eurocopter and China, will also be demonstrated at the Paris Air Show’s daily flight program. Eurocopter foresees the rotary-wing aircraft’s certification during the second half of 2011 for deliveries beginning in 2012.
This multi-role helicopter is in the seven-metric-ton weight category, fitting into Eurocopter’s product range between its AS365 Dauphin and the AS332/EC225 Super Puma aircraft families. The EC175 benefits from a mix of proven and advanced technologies, providing excellent performance and reliability.
Eurocopter will also exhibit its enhanced EC145 T2, AS350 B3e and AS565 MBe in the static display area during the show.