tottigol
3rd Apr 2012, 20:46
From Rotorhub:
EADS North America is offering the updated version of the EC145 to meet the expected needs of the US Army's Armed Aerial Scout (AAS) programme.
The company revealed a mock-up of the AAS-72X+ on the opening day of the Quad A 2012 convention being held in Nashville. Based on the EC145 T2, the AAS-72X+ would feature the uprated Arriel 2E engines, new gearbox and the fenestron shrouded anti-torque system.
Gary Bishop, EADS vice president and AAS programme manager, told reporters that the improvements to the aircraft would deliver greater hot and high performance while the fenestron improves tail rotor authority at high altitude.
Until now, the company's work has been concentrated around the standard EC145 and the US Army's UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter. The company has invested its own money into building three technology demonstrators.
'Everything we have done so far on the demonstrators could be easily transferred to the AAS-72X+,' said Bishop.
The company says the 72X+ will exceed the performance already demonstrated by the standard AAS-72X, including the 6K/95 endurance requirement of 2 hours and 12 minutes plus a 20 minute fuel reserve, while carrying a 2,800 pound useful payload for mission equipment and crew.
Currently there is just one EC145 T2 prototype. That aircraft has completed more than 300 flight hours including hot and high flying and cold weather testing. A US Army test pilot flew the prototype in October last year.
In the meantime, the company is continuing to fly the three demonstration aircraft. Two of the aircraft are in the United States while the third is flying in Germany.
Work being carried out includes flight tests without the aircraft doors, and option which will certified for civilian use. The company is also doing integration work with radios and Raytheon's Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS) EO/IR turret.
Tests are also underway on a closed-loop fuel system which would replace the current gravity arrangement. This would allow the aircraft to conduct rotors running refuelling at forward arming and refuelling points (FARPs)for example.
All that without a change in the certification class.:E
EADS North America is offering the updated version of the EC145 to meet the expected needs of the US Army's Armed Aerial Scout (AAS) programme.
The company revealed a mock-up of the AAS-72X+ on the opening day of the Quad A 2012 convention being held in Nashville. Based on the EC145 T2, the AAS-72X+ would feature the uprated Arriel 2E engines, new gearbox and the fenestron shrouded anti-torque system.
Gary Bishop, EADS vice president and AAS programme manager, told reporters that the improvements to the aircraft would deliver greater hot and high performance while the fenestron improves tail rotor authority at high altitude.
Until now, the company's work has been concentrated around the standard EC145 and the US Army's UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter. The company has invested its own money into building three technology demonstrators.
'Everything we have done so far on the demonstrators could be easily transferred to the AAS-72X+,' said Bishop.
The company says the 72X+ will exceed the performance already demonstrated by the standard AAS-72X, including the 6K/95 endurance requirement of 2 hours and 12 minutes plus a 20 minute fuel reserve, while carrying a 2,800 pound useful payload for mission equipment and crew.
Currently there is just one EC145 T2 prototype. That aircraft has completed more than 300 flight hours including hot and high flying and cold weather testing. A US Army test pilot flew the prototype in October last year.
In the meantime, the company is continuing to fly the three demonstration aircraft. Two of the aircraft are in the United States while the third is flying in Germany.
Work being carried out includes flight tests without the aircraft doors, and option which will certified for civilian use. The company is also doing integration work with radios and Raytheon's Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS) EO/IR turret.
Tests are also underway on a closed-loop fuel system which would replace the current gravity arrangement. This would allow the aircraft to conduct rotors running refuelling at forward arming and refuelling points (FARPs)for example.
All that without a change in the certification class.:E