New Airbus Helicopters X6

[KiwiNedNZ]

New X6 Announced

Airbus Launches The X6 (http://www.heliopsmag.com/news-blog/airbus-launches-the-x6)

[cattletruck]

These polytope designs look great on toys but in the real world helicopters are utilitarian and without much room for emotional baggage.

[lowfat]

if there true to form it will be body kit on a 225.aka just a rub of polish on a 1970s infra structure...

[Never Fretter]

"True to form..."

Like the X4 that has evolved into the H160?

Or are you confusing with Sikorsky and the 1970s H-60 dynamics on top of a fat cabin?

[lowfat]

Anybody can photo shop a Gucci body and fill a fiberglass demonstrator with flat screen tvs...

What turns up on the ramp to fill with passengers is what counts and unfortunately the ground breaking ideas rarely get past the modeling shop...

[Ian Corrigible]

The X4 is nothing like the H160, when I was with AB Mangement recently, someone else said the same thing. Management's reply was that X4 was just a concept to make sure that Sikorsky didn't have the fastest with the X2.
Maybe some confusion here with the X³ (http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/409996-eurocopter-x3-hybrid.html)?

A relevant segue, nonetheless, given that AH's prior CEO once hinted (http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2013-03-03/eurocopter-developing-number-new-helicopters) the X6 might appear in two flavors: traditional helicopter and high-speed compound.

I/C

[John R81]

On 19 June 2017, the European Commission approved, under the EU state aid rules, French and German public funding to support the development of the innovative Airbus X6 heavy helicopter.


Commissioner Margrethe Vestager: “The French and German support will stimulate considerable private investment in this project. The support will help bring a new generation of innovative heavy helicopters to the market, without causing undue distortions of competition.”

[jimcarler]

I think it is fair to have some state contributions to aid development of new products, otherwise innovation would only continue at a much slower pace.

The concept looks great, especially in a class that needs updating.

[birmingham]

I would very much doubt that the MRG will bear much relation to the 225

[lowfat]

Strange isn't it.. How certain countries can use state aid . While others are persecuted and have to let complete industries (steel for example) collapse.
Just an idol observation.

[heli1]

As I understand it, the state aid is only a loan,to be paid back through a commission on sales.

[212man]

On hold now: https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-helicopters-delays-launch-of-x6-programme-445067/

Airbus Helicopters is pushing back the launch of its X6 heavy helicopter programme, citing continued market uncertainty and the inability of suppliers to deliver "disruptive technologies" at present.

Envisaged as a replacement for the current 11t-class H225 Super Puma, the airframer began a concept study phase for the X6 in 2015 which was expected to last around two years. At the time, service entry was foreseen around 2022-2023.

But speaking on a 22 January briefing on its 2017 orders and deliveries, Guillaume Faury, the airframer's outgoing chief executive, said that since the study phase began, the offshore oil and gas segment in particular has collapsed.

Although the military and parapublic markets for the H225 have stayed strong, accounting for all of the 44 net orders for the type in 2017, there is considerable future uncertainty.

"We have seen an evolution in the structure of the market and we need to take that into account," says Faury. At present, the manufacturer is unable to develop a "solid and balanced business case" for the programme.

In addition, the concept studies have shown "a lack of maturity from the supply chain to deliver disruptive technologies as envisaged", he says.

"Until we find those appropriate solutions and market certainty, we will not launch a fully fledged programme.

"It is not gone but it is likely to become something quite different to what we launched."

Faury declines to detail the technologies under consideration, but says "more time and maturity" is required. When the concept study phase was launched, the airframer said the X6 wold feature fly-by-wire controls and next-generation engines.

Although in 2017 the European Commission approved French and German refundable launch aid totalling €377 million ($461 million) for the X6 programme, Faury says that money has yet to be allocated.

If the airframer eventually launches the X6, that funding could be used as planned, although if significant changes to the design are made "then we would have to look again" at those state investments, he says.