Airbus has unveiled its groundbreaking new aircraft, the Racer, at a helicopter base in France. This innovative rotorcraft combines the vertical take-off capabilities of a helicopter with the speed of a plane, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of aviation.
At first glance, the Racer might appear to be a conventional helicopter, but a closer inspection reveals its unique features. The aircraft boasts both wings and two forward-facing rotors, allowing it to take off vertically like a helicopter while achieving the impressive speeds of a plane. In fact, the Racer can reach speeds exceeding 400 km/h, surpassing the cruising speeds of civilian helicopters (around 200 km/h) and even outpacing military choppers like the Black Hawk (295 km/h) and Chinook (302 km/h).
The Racer’s design builds upon the success of the Airbus X3, an experimental aircraft that broke the speed record for a helicopter in 2013 by reaching 472 km/h. The Racer aims to bring this half-plane, half-copter design closer to commercialization, offering a glimpse into the future of rotorcraft technology.
However, speed isn’t the only consideration for the Racer’s development team. Julien Guitton, who led the Racer’s development, emphasized that “speed at any price, without taking into account the economic and environmental impact, is of no interest to anyone.” The Racer was developed under the European Clean Sky 2 programme, which encourages the development of lower-emission air transport. To meet the programme’s requirements, the Racer had to demonstrate a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to a conventional aircraft of the same weight. Airbus has confirmed that the Racer met these targets following its first test flights in April.
The Racer’s wing plays a crucial role in its efficiency, providing 40% of the total lift and reducing the load on the rotor. This results in decreased dynamic loads and vibrations, making the Racer more comfortable than a conventional helicopter.
The unveiling of the Racer took place at Airbus Helicopters’ base in Marignane, southern France, with an audience of 150 industry executives, politicians, and representatives from the European Union. Despite the €200 million price tag for the demonstrator aircraft, the Racer’s potential has generated significant interest, and its commercialization may become a reality if Airbus attracts enough buyers.
While the Racer currently holds the title for the fastest helicopter, it’s worth noting that US-based Bell Helicopter is developing the Bell V-280 Valor for the United States Army. This tilt-rotor aircraft has a top speed of 556 km/h and can pivot its rotors to face down for vertical take-off and then forward to fly like a plane. However, tilt-rotors are not technically classified as helicopters, so Airbus’ record remains unchallenged.
