One of the most unusual sights on the static display is AgustaWestland's Project Zero technology demonstrator, which is making its Paris debut.

The all-electric unmanned tiltrotor was unveiled by the Anglo-Italian airframer in March and is designed to test a number of concepts that could eventually make their way onto a future rotorcraft.

AgustaWestland Project Zero tiltrotor

Billypix

It has flown several times, both tethered and untethered, in 2011 and 2012 at AgustaWestland's Cascina Costa facility in Italy.

It features tiltable rotors integrated into the aircraft's wings to transition from vertical to horizontal flight, with the majority of the lift coming from the demonstrator's blended fuselage. Power comes from rechargable batteries and its control and actuation systems are electrically powered.

AgustaWestland is a firm believer in the civil tiltrotor concept and is already developing the AW609, due for certification in 2017.

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Source: Flight Daily News