On April 25, 2024, the Airbus RACER took its first flight in Marignane, France. With its hybrid design, this experimental high-speed compound helicopter was made to address efficiency and safety issues often found in these super-fast helicopters.
The Airbus RACER
Airbus Helicoptersdesigned and manufactured the RACER (Rapid and Cost-Effective Rotorcraft) based on its retired experimental high-speed compound helicopter—theEurocopter X³. The RACER can fly at a speed of up to 400 km/h, which is 50% quicker than a standard helicopter, and offers a cost reduction of 25% per distance, with 15% less fuel consumption, too.
It’s low in weight thanks to its hybrid metallic-composite frame, and one of its two engines can shut down and quickly restart mid-flight in Eco-Mode to save fuel and increase flight time and range. This low-maintenance craft features innovative lateral pusher propellers that generate thrust and lift, and keep it at a safe and efficient speed.
Efficient Speed
While the technology in the RACER potentially does have the capacity to break the sound barrier, Airbus’ goal was to get the aircraft to perform at the fastest and simultaneously safest, most cost-effective, and eco-friendly speed possible.
The company achieved this by creating a ‘compound’ formula that combines unique architecture with, inter alia, fuselage aerodynamics and fixed-wing/propulsive propellers, and a clever autopilot along with advanced engine power management.
Developing the RACER
The RACER was developed as part of the EuropeanClean Sky 2programme—the largest aviation research programme in Europe—with a goal to reduce fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, and noise by around 20% compared to conventional helicopters. Although ambitious, the simulations and initial flights showed that the RACER was more than capable of meeting these requirements.
Airbus showcased a high-speed demonstrator configuration at the Paris air show in June 2017, and thereafter designed important sub-systems and worked on making the lateral drive shaft. Pandemic-related delays set back its finalization and test flight, initially due at the end of 2021, to April of this year.
Airbus RACER—Summary
The RACER, first showcased in 2017 at the Paris air show, combines advanced materials, aerodynamic principles, and state-of-the-art propulsion systems to address safety and efficiency issues commonly found in high-speed helicopters.
Finalizations were carried out by a team of around 50 engineers and workers. During its April 2024 test flight in Marignane, France, the RACER proved its capabilities, and lived up to the company’s intended philosophy for the aircraft: “High performance and economy of use.”
Image Credit: Airbus
