airbus Helicopter H160 (ex : Eurocopter X4)

Admin a écrit:http://www.air-cosmos.com/2015/05/12/34639-airbus-helicopters-derniere-ligne-droite-pour-le-h160
Un extrait

A Marignane, dans un coin du hangar K-1 s'active toute une équipe de techniciens, d'ingénieurs et d'ingénieurs d'essais en vol autour de l'appareil qui n'est pas encore équipé de sa tête de rotor et de ses pales.

Pour le moment donc on reste sur un premier vol avant le Bourget

Admin a écrit:Ce sont des pièces qui sont prévues pour être montées / démontées ?

Disclosing the flight-test progress at a Dubai media briefing held at the H160 mock-up on the static display, Benoit Terral, sales promotion manager for the type, said the velocity was achieved during a slight descent.

Nonetheless, he is confident that Vne “could be just after this limit”. Maximum cruise of the 5.5-6t helicopter is targeted for 160kt.

Terral says the company has so far accumulated some 60h of test flights since the H160’s maiden sortie in June. This has been achieved using the initial flight-test prototype, which is fitted with Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210 engines.

.@AirbusHC second #H160 prototype takes off
https://t.co/uD9Si2HWuS pic.twitter.com/2PieBBZs89

— Airbus Helicopters (@AirbusHC) 27 Janvier 2016

The H160’s second prototype took off today in Marignane, kicking off a busy 2016 for the H160 as it pursues its flight test program with two prototypes.
The second prototype is the first H160 to fly with the Turbomeca Arrano engines. PT1 had accumulated more than 75 hours of flight testing by the end of 2015, allowing the aircraft to open the flight envelope and validating some of the helicopter’s excellent features and outstanding handling qualities right from the start.
“After a very busy year 2015 in terms of flight activities, introducing PT2 is an important step in the H160 development as we will launch performance testing with the Turbomeca Arrano engines.” said Bernard Fujarski, head of the H160 Program. “The development program will benefit from 5 development aircraft; two helicopter zeros and three flying prototypes will be paving the way to entry into service in 2018.” he added.
2016 will be an equally active year for the H160 with the beginning of its commercialization and many other milestones in helicopter development, industrialization and preparation of support activities in order to bring a fully mature helicopter to the market.

Some 250 flight hours have been logged on the type from Airbus Helicopters’ Marignane, France, headquarters. “Performance goals have been met or exceeded,” said Olivier Michalon, head of global sales for the type. Vibration on the prototypes is said to be particularly low. One factor contributing towards this is the optimized height flight-test pilots and engineers have chosen for the main rotor mast.

The engine seems to be contributing to the satisfactory development. Safran Helicopter Engines is confident the 1,100-1,1300 shaft horsepower Arrano 1A will be 100 percent “on specification” at entry into service. “We are on target, or better, for power and fuel burn,” said Maxime Faribault, Safran Helicopter Engines’ executive vice president for OEM sales. Engine certification will happen “six months prior to helicopter certification,” he predicted.

Highlighted in a data sheet on show at the Helitech exhibition in London, the manufacturer gives the H160's maximum take-off weight (MTOW) as 5,670kg (12,500lb). However, it is also listed in an "extended gross weight" configuration of 6,050kg.
Both options are available from day one, with no operational penalties, according to the brochure.
Airbus Helicopters had previously been vague on the H160's MTOW, listing it only as 5.5-6t.
Fast cruise speed is given as 155kt (285km/h), with a range of above 460nm (850km).
So far, the manufacturer has amassed 500h of flight testing with the initial pair of Safran Helicopter Engines Arrano-powered H160s.
The programme's third prototype has now been handed over to Airbus Helicopters' flight-test department in Marignane, France and a maiden sortie looks set for the coming days.
With the entire flight envelope now opened, the remaining development activities will focus on hot weather tests, antennas, and optional equipment, says the airframer.