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Eurocopter X3 hybrid
Eurocopter has filed a US patent application for a hybrid helicopter. Perhaps we're seeing some features of the secretive X3 or X4 development programs?
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Just had a look at the patent a smaller version would look like an Auto Gyro built properly could be good for utility work or is it a pipedream
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From the latest edition of Rotorhub magazine:
We now know that Eurocopter is making a concerted effort ... RH understands that the company will fly a high-speed demonstrator later this year ... We now understand that the X3 is a compound design that will be unveiled later this year as one of Eurocopter's two 2010 first flights. |
Do I remember sometime back in the early 80s a story about the Israelis working on a jump start gyroplane?
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Another article:
HELI-EXPO: R-R lifts veil on Eurocopter "X3" high-speed prototype - The DEW Line http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/as...er_hyrbrid.JPG Interesting that these images have swept wings (and propellors - strange mix). This may just be to cover themselves for future development. Then again the technologies you need to consider transonic are swept tip blades and servo flaps (leading and/or trailing). We live in interesting times... http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/417...urocopter.html |
Sikorsky's X5?
United States Patent ~ D614,559. April 27, 2010 CLAIM The ornamental design for a rotary-wing aircraft with a common dynamic system/backbone structure, as shown and described. http://www.unicopter.com/Temporary/Sikorsky_D614559.gif |
Just thinking out loud with no particular expertise in design here ...
The swept wings may just be a compromise between a good place for attaching wings to fuselage, and positioning of the engines for balance and noise reduction to the cabin. You'd imagine all that wing area below the rotor would make it quite inefficient in the hover. I guess it would use asymmetric thrust from the props for yaw control? Interesting idea, and it looks rather cool too (important design feature there!) |
I think it's simpler than that. In FW world, everytime the designers come up with some new, revolutionary concept, it necessarily must feature pusher props/jets, swept wings and canard configuration, purely to look futuristic. Looks like the "disease" has spread to helicopter world... Fortunately most of thse never leave the drawing board, or if they do, they become more convetnional :ok:
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Eurocopter to disclose ‘significant milestone’ AIN September 23, 2010 On Monday, Eurocopter is to disclose a “significant milestone in [its] innovation roadmap” during a media event at the helicopter manufacturer’s headquarters in Marignane, France. Industry observers believe the company could finally unveil its plans for a compound helicopter, which is known in the industry as the X3. In 2008, Eurocopter filed a patent application at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for “a rotorcraft [capable of] high speed and…long distances. The document took as an example a 16-seat rotorcraft that could fly more than 400 nm at 220 knots. Another possibility is that Eurocopter could announce a Dauphin/EC 155 medium-twin helicopter replacement. Dubbed the X4, it was widely expected to be launched by June. If any new helicopter is announced on Monday, it could very well feature fly-by-wire controls. In 2007, Eurocopter was talkative about developing FBW systems for civil helicopters. However, more recently the company has become tight lipped and declined to give an update on the technology; a spokesperson told AIN that it is “too secret. Details of Eurocopter’s “significant milestone” will be covered in Tuesday’s issue of AINalerts. I/C |
Eurocopter X3, photo from a french press article
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Eurocopter X3
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Thanks for that ! No more T/R it seems. I wonder if the two antitorque "turboprops" add redundancy. Probably not as good for safety...
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would 'pusher' props not have made more sense? - they would have allowed rotors running embark/disembark.
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misterbonkers,
Two potential advantages of the side mounted pusher-props are; ~ They operate in cleaner air then the pusher prop does, ~ By using differential thrust the propeller under the advancing blades can contribute to forward thrust while still offsetting the some of the torque of the main rotor. Here is the configuration as experimented with by B.J. Schramm on his Helicycle. http://www.unicopter.com/Helicycle3.gif Dave |
iuuu growse:) looks like gang bang incident between EC-155, 175 and C-27J!
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Woah. That is one fugly critter. :yuk:
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And a video:
skadi |
A tad premature for the 1st April I think.
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hm...is it just me, or this maschine shakes just a bit too much, acording to video:)
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wow amazing!! i like this speed challenge!
it seems pretty ready for the market :) |
Be very interested to see the low speed/x-wind/sideways/rearwards handling,and whether `changes` get made...
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I guess you don't have to worry about walking into the T/R :ugh:
You wouldnt make it there alive :rolleyes: |
Any coincidence it's called the X3, putting it (in terms of name alone) ahead of Sikorsky's X2? I doubt it. Yeah, pretty fugly... and I don't know if I'd want to board the aircraft with the props turning.
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This is concept only? Probably any commercial aircraft will have shrouded side rotors or clutch to disengage side engines as these are to dangerous for rotors turning loading/unloading.
Is yaw control by using side engines for left/right movement as you do in a vehicle with tracks? YBB |
Interesting, how will they lower RPM of the main rotor while increasing power to the tip props?
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Originally Posted by widgeon
(Post 5960091)
Interesting, how will they lower RPM of the main rotor while increasing power to the tip props?
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Wow, she's a beaut. Nice video too. Not too many points for originality on the name, though.
I've said it before, anybody who makes something new and actually flies it deserves credit. Will be interesting to see how it performs. Looks like slope landings may not be its specialty, unless you are nose up/nose down the hill. Is it FBW or mechanical? From the video it sounds like it is not FBW. Would seem to be crying out for a FBW solution, then again maybe blending collective position vs thrust vs speed vs antitorque is not that hard. -- IFMU |
I'm sure it would need shrouded props to be viable, and they would have the advatage of reduced diameter too. It will be interesting to hear how fast they get. I know that head/rotor has been to 210 kts on the EC-155 prototype and 240 kts on another demonstrator, so lots of potential!
The name is not X-three, it's X-cubed. |
Not a new concept
I liked it better when it was called the Fairey Rotodyne!
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Originally Posted by 212man
The name is not X-three, it's X-cubed.
-- IFMU |
Well damn!!!
Back in the secondary/uni days I came up a with a concept for a helicopter/compound aircraft. I couldn't interest any of the engineering profs at my uni so I filed it away. It was based on a Rutan concept for a two place aircraft in Popular Mechanics. My design was a two to three place aircraft with staggered seating, the third possibly facing backwards, with a forward swept, negative staggered wing, bicycle landing gear with outriggers (a la B-52) and either wing mounted pusher props or ducted fans. I gave up on the idea of a pure heli and settled on a jump take off gyro with a powered rotor to overcome the induced drag of a pure gyro ( see Igor Benson's Powergyro concept) with an unloaded rotor flying on the wiing (Like the Cheyenne.) I figured 180 kts+. Not unreasonable given the technology of the 60-70's. High speed, long loiter times at altitude would make for a great UAV. Too bad I'm a bit of an anti-statist :uhoh: Well more power to them! Will be cool to see what they come up with... |
Looks great. I always thought the Rotodyne concept was way ahead of its time; here it comes again :cool:
However, rotors running crew and pax changes will need some careful thought... The benefits of a high speed SAR machine was mentioned. Where does the winch fit? |
Seems like resonance between the wings/nacelles and the wide tailfins.
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OK, under those nice fairings are, based on my count of intakes, three engines. Does the transmission allow all three to drive the head, and clutching allow for power transmission to the side mounted assemblies?
Neat looking machine. Maybe a slight forward sweep on the wings would be a good idea ... though CG issues may arise ... |
OK, under those nice fairings are, based on my count of intakes, three engines. Does the transmission allow all three to drive the head, and clutching allow for power transmission to the side mounted assemblies? See the vid i posted above! skadi |
Originally Posted by Misler
Any coincidence it's called the X3
Originally Posted by Yellow & Blue Baron
This is concept only?
Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50
under those nice fairings are, based on my count of intakes, three engines
I/C |
OK, under those nice fairings are, based on my count of intakes, three engines. Seems like resonance between the wings/nacelles and the wide tailfins. Cattletruck did elude to it in his comment: I would think the lower moment of the pusher/puller props from the MR head would contribute significant pitching movements (like a boat) as the couples fight each other for equilibrium. http://www2.nlr.nl/public/facilities..._ductedfan.jpg http://static.rcgroups.com/forums/at...g?d=1116525983 Dowty's Ducted Fan Islander Not only do the props need to become ducted fans or similar but I am sure the entire wing assembly will be modified to accommodate optimal dynamic relation with the main and side rotors. If they didn't go for fans then the side rotors should ideally become rearward facing (if the cg can be maintained) to encourage better safety. Just taking a wild stab at the vibration from the side props .. my guess is that the pylons are too flexible and probably have little by way of damping measures. It will be interesting to see how x-cubed ends up! Earl |
skadi:
I don't typically click on vids. Might take a peak at this one later, though. Thanks to you and Ian and Earl for insight on third inlet: cooling that transmission sounds a good idea. :ok: |
New Euro multicopter aims bitchslap at American X2, V-22 ? The Register
Franco-Germano-Spanish helicopter agglomorocorp Eurocopter has announced its aspirations to leave a glowing handprint upon the bitchcheek of US whirlycraft titan Sikorsky. In an apparent response to the Sikorsky X2 triplex speedchopper project, Eurocopter has now pulled the wraps off its own supercopter design - which it has chosen to dub the "X3". "Hah, it is not merely ze Americains who can make ze flying eggbeaters" |
I am surprised at the comments regarding the shrouded rotor. I am sure EC will get there especially seeing that they are the masters of the fenestron? EC is one manufacturer to whom shrouded rotors are not a new concept so I bet as was said before that the eventual product will look different with different concepts but it remains impressive the short time from development to actually flying again as per the 175. You will never know what works best until you actually start flying it I guess.
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