Airbus Helicopters has moved a step closer to the first flight of its Racer high-speed rotorcraft, having achieved power-on of the technology demonstrator.

Disclosing the milestone via Twitter on 20 December, the manufacturer posted a short video clip showing the Racer largely complete, sporting its distinctive V-wings, H-shaped vertical tail and pusher propellers. However, it is still lacking its main rotor.

Racer-c-Airbus Helicopters

Source: Airbus Helicopters

First flight is planned for 2023

In November, Airbus Helicopters revealed that the rotorcraft’s maiden sortie had slipped to 2023, from a previous target of 2022, thanks to the late delivery of undisclosed components.

Developed as part of the EU-funded Clean Sky 2 programme, the Racer’s compound architecture builds on the airframer’s earlier X3 design and should allow it to achieve a cruise speed of 220kt (407km/h).

In addition, one of its twin Safran Helicopter Engines Aneto-1X turboshafts will be able to be idled and rapidly restarted during the cruise, contributing a 15% fuel-burn reduction while at 180kt.

Dominic Perry is deputy editor of Flight International but also contributes extensively to flightglobal.com. Although specialising in the coverage of the helicopter industry, he has written on most topics in aerospace – be they commercial, defence or business aviation. In addition, there has been an increasing focus on the decarbonisation of the industry and zero-emission flight initiatives.View full Profile

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