The X3 demonstrator is a high speed, long-range hybrid helicopter that is currently being developed by Eurocopter, a division of EADS.
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The helicopter can support different mission configurations, such as search and rescue, passenger transportation, border patrol missions, medical evacuation and military missions.
In September 2010 the French General Directorate for Armament (DGA), the government’s defence procurement agency, conducted flight testing of the X3. In December 2010, the maiden flight of the helicopter was performed at the DGA flight test base in Istres, France. The helicopter attained a step one maximum speed of 333km/h during the first flight. In May 2011, the helicopter attained a target speed of 430km/h by using about 80% less available power.
Eurocopter aims to convince the US Department of Defense (DoD) to invest in the X3 technology. In June 2012, the helicopter flew for a marketing tour in Grand Prairie, Texas, US. The tour also covered army bases across the US, such as Redstone Arsenal, Fort Bragg and Fort Belvoir.
In September 2012, it was exhibited at Japan Aerospace 2012, which was held at Port Messe in Nagoya, Japan.
Design and development of Eurocopter’s hybrid helicopter
The design of the X3 helicopter is based on Eurocopter’s EC155 helicopter. The X3’s design features include a combination of higher cruise speeds and outstanding vertical takeoff and landing performance.
The helicopter is fitted with a five-bladed main rotor, two tractor propellers and short wings. The lift provided by the short wings reduces about 40% to 50% of the load on the rotor, which enables the helicopter to fly faster.
Eurocopter derived many design concepts for the helicopter from its existing models. It borrowed the fuselage from the AS365N3 Dauphin, the rotor system from an EC155 and the main gearbox from the EC175. The propellers for the helicopter were supplied by MT-Propeller, a German manufacturer.
The helicopter has no tail-rotor, and the aft section comprises of a horizontal stabiliser with twin vertical stabilisers. The anti-torque rotor of the helicopter is fitted with fin flaps controlled directly by a computer at high speeds. At low speed the anti-torque compensation is controlled by the pilot through foot pedal movement.
The instrument panel of the X3 helicopter was derived from that of an EC155. The panel is fitted with two multifunction displays, which provide standard flight parameters such as airspeed and altitude. It also has a single display that only shows the propeller pitch, true airspeed and vertical climb speed. The nose of the helicopter decelerates and remains pointed down at the landing area, which provides a great field of view from the instrument panel.
The helicopter has space for three crew members. It is fitted with a four-axis autopilot system and fly-by-wire control technology. Its electromechanical stability augmentation system (SAS) was adopted from the original EC155. The helicopter’s yaw axis control and duplex hydraulic systems enhance its safety.
The helicopter is fitted with cameras at the cabin and a fuselage, which records every aspect of flight. It also has a 3D camera located on the front panel, which focuses on pilots and flight-test engineers.
Rolls-Royce engines and X3 performance
The helicopter is fitted with two Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 turboshaft engines, rated at 1,693 kW (2,270 hp) each. The RTM322 engine is designed to suit a wide-range helicopters and it was developed in collaboration with Turbomeca. It was derived from the NH90 manufactured by NHIndustries. It provides power to the five-blade main rotor-system and two propellers of the helicopter.
The maximum speed of the helicopter is 430km/h and its cruising speed is 407km/h. The service ceiling is 3,810m. The rate of climb of the helicopter is 25m/s (5,000ft/min).
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