AIRBUS RACER / Clean Sky2 LifeRCraft Demonstrator

[Scott Kenny]

How does every other helicopter manage? Most dont have a wing structure separating passengers from the tail rotor.

By killing any idiot that walks into the tail rotor.

 

[MihoshiK]

By killing any idiot that walks into the tail rotor.

Natural selection at it's finest. Don't walk into the metal spinny bits.

 

[kqcke for you]

But thats the whole fun

 

[Archibald]

WARNING: GRAPHIC

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns7h2KF5-yA

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE0V-TmqTP8


(scared the shit out of me when I watched it as a teen).

 

[yasotay]

While I am a devout believe in; "If it can go wrong, it will," there are certainly safeguards that could be implemented to decrease the opportunity for Darwinian selection. Weight on wheels switch could automatically decouple the propellors and put them in beta or feathered status to slow them to a stop. Modern LED lights (both visual and IR) can be inserted into the propellors to make it abundantly clear where not to go. All of this said, I remain concerned about the military utility due to the hazard. People who have not slept in days and are wanting to get away from other people trying to kill them tend not to be on the same level of rational thought as those of us who sit in air-conditioned safe spaces sipping our favorite caffeinated beverage.
As I said earlier, I do think the technology, as being built, can be used for civil purposes more readily. Certainly, civil Emergency Medical Evacuation will need some consideration as those can be chaotic environments as well, but VIP and deep-sea oil rig transport where you can control the movement of people are certainly viable in my opinion.

 

[H_K]

All of this said, I remain concerned about the military utility due to the hazard.

While true, a complete risk benefit assessment would also have to factor in the lives saved from flying 60-70% faster. Faster times for Medevac / fire support missions, better survivability etc.

 

[H_K]

The super-fast Airbus Racer helicopter will take off in February

So apparently they meant end of March, not February? Lousy messaging from Airbus.

From the pics from yesterday’s press event there still seems to be some way to go…

https://twitter.com/x/status/1757392994079035771

View: https://x.com/AlcockNews/status/1757392994079035771?s=20

Interesting that they also for the first time stressed the commonality with conventional helicopters (from both a parts and pilot training perspective), potentially leading to easier mixed-fleet operations of conventional and “Racer” helicopters under one roof.

Racer closes in on first flight - RotorHub International

Racer Programme high speed demonstrator is slated for first flight by the end of March.

www.rotorhub.com

 

[Scott Kenny]

Interesting that they also for the first time stressed the commonality with conventional helicopters (from both a parts and pilot training perspective), potentially leading to easier mixed-fleet operations of conventional and “Racer” helicopters under one roof.

I mean, it's a simple compound helicopter, only slightly more complex than the Cheyenne arrangement. Trivially more complex than Cheyenne, IMO.

So I agree that it's a much easier training program than V280s or Ospreys.

 

[WatcherZero]

I find it fascinating that in part the upper wing is to shield the lower wing from the downwash of the main rotors so that it generates more lift and also to minimise the vertical drag when hovering compared to a single larger wing. Lot of complex aerodynamic interactions between the different elements.

 

[Scott Kenny]

I find it fascinating that in part the upper wing is to shield the lower wing from the downwash of the main rotors so that it generates more lift and also to minimise the vertical drag when hovering compared to a single larger wing. Lot of complex aerodynamic interactions between the different elements.

engineers getting sneaky!

 

[RavenOne]

LifeRCraft = Low Impact, Fast & Efficient RotorCraft

The next step after X³

Refer to page 332 (8.7 Compound Rotorcraft Demonstration (LifeRCraft)) for further information:

http://ec.europa.eu/research/partic...l/jti/h2020-guide-techprog-cleansky-ju_en.pdf

Info about Clean Sky: http://www.cleansky.eu/fast-rotorcraft

BR Michael

...H160 derivative? :

Made its first flight

Airbus Helicopters’ Racer is off to a flying start

Airbus Helicopters’ Racer demonstrator, developed in the frame of the European Research Clean Sky 2 project, has performed its first flight.

www.airbus.com

 

[H_K]

Made its first flight

Airbus Helicopters’ Racer is off to a flying start

Airbus Helicopters’ Racer demonstrator, developed in the frame of the European Research Clean Sky 2 project, has performed its first flight.

www.airbus.com

A few more pics.