{"id":1513,"date":"2015-06-17T19:58:33","date_gmt":"2015-06-17T17:58:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/?p=1513"},"modified":"2015-07-07T21:57:43","modified_gmt":"2015-07-07T19:57:43","slug":"h160-first-flight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/2015\/06\/h160-first-flight\/","title":{"rendered":"H160, first flight"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_1516\" style=\"width: 705px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/11415491_10205682883545679_4397750107572831328_o.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1516\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1516\" src=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/11415491_10205682883545679_4397750107572831328_o-1024x740.jpg\" alt=\"Maiden flight of the Airbus Helicopters H160 (copyright Max Moutoussamy)\" width=\"695\" height=\"502\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/11415491_10205682883545679_4397750107572831328_o-1024x740.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/11415491_10205682883545679_4397750107572831328_o-300x217.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/11415491_10205682883545679_4397750107572831328_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 695px) 100vw, 695px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1516\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Maiden flight of the Airbus Helicopters H160, copyright 2015 M. Moutoussamy<\/p><\/div>\n<p><em><strong>Stable, extremely easy, barely any vibrations, smooth like a flying carpet<\/strong><\/em>. The first words of the pilot after the landing\u00a0are very optimistic and encouraging.<\/p>\n<p>The model H160 by Airbus Helicopters, previously called prototype X4, made its maiden\u00a0flight on Saturday 13th, June, at the main plant in Marignane, southern France. With <a href=\"http:\/\/www.infoclimat.fr\/observations-meteo\/archives\/13\/juin\/2015\/marseille-marignane-marseille-provence\/07650.html?metar\" target=\"_blank\">24\u00b0C and 5 kt<\/a> of wind, the weather was rather nice.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"695\" height=\"391\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/crZLDccxZKg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>With the introduction of many new technologies, everyone tries to hunt for the hints, and we will give it a try as well.<\/p>\n<p>First, unusual\u00a0control surfaces appeared, such as\u00a0a rudder on the tail fin. The rudder can be seen on the photo in forward flight below:<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1521\" style=\"width: 705px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/CDPH-5038-044R.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1521\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1521\" src=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/CDPH-5038-044R-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"H160 PT1 in forward flight, copyright T. Rostang for Airbus Helicopters, 2015\" width=\"695\" height=\"464\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/CDPH-5038-044R-1024x684.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/CDPH-5038-044R-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/CDPH-5038-044R.jpg 1775w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 695px) 100vw, 695px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1521\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">H160 PT1 in forward flight, copyright T. Rostang for Airbus Helicopters, 2015<\/p><\/div>\n<p>However, what appears to be a separate piece on the lower part of the horizontal stabilator is fixed (B. Fujarski in\u00a0&#8220;4 Rotors&#8221;, issue of Summer 2015). We can assume that it allows to use more power for the main rotor in fast forward flight, while the anti-torque is ensured by the huge tail fin instead of the fenestron.<\/p>\n<p>With 6 metric\u00a0tons MTOW, the H160 is slightly heavier than the H155 (4,5 t) and completes the product range, closing the gap under the H175.<\/p>\n<p>The helicopter is powered with 2 Arrano 1A, newly developped by the company Turbomeca. However, it seems that the gear box stays the same as for the H155. The rotor blades are, of course, brand new. They were introduced by Eurocopter with the programme &#8220;Blue Edge&#8221; during the year 2010.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"695\" height=\"391\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dBS1NRsYuF8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>These rotor blades were later observed on a modified H135 in Germany.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1514\" style=\"width: 705px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.airplane-pictures.net\/photo\/453322\/d-heex-eurocopter-eurocopter-ec135-all-models\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1514\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1514 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/cdn.airplane-pictures.net\/images\/uploaded-images\/2014\/9\/3\/453322.jpg\" alt=\"D-HEEX, H135 silent prototype\" width=\"695\" height=\"476\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1514\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">D-HEEX, H135 silent prototype (copyright Marc Ulm)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Another curious feature is located on the top of the tail, in front of the strobe light.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1515\" style=\"width: 705px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/11406452_294605910663011_8216184049689670350_o.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1515\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1515\" src=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/11406452_294605910663011_8216184049689670350_o-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"H160, sensor on the top of the tail fin\" width=\"695\" height=\"464\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/11406452_294605910663011_8216184049689670350_o.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/11406452_294605910663011_8216184049689670350_o-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 695px) 100vw, 695px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1515\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">H160, sensor on the top of the tail fin, copyright Airbus Helicopters<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Finally, the canted fenestron will provide better support for a correct weight and balance, compensating the heavy tail that might be pushing the center of gravity to the rear.<\/p>\n<p>The video below displays the second test flight, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.airbushelicopters.com\/website\/en\/press\/Airbus-Helicopters-H160-Flight-Test-campaign-launched_1785.html\" target=\"_blank\">where the speed of 130 kt was reached<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"695\" height=\"390\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dailymotion.com\/embed\/video\/x2uglgn\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s wait now for more flights and even greater speeds!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1522\" style=\"width: 705px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/CDPH-5038-036.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1522\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1522\" src=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/CDPH-5038-036-1024x614.jpg\" alt=\"H160 PT1 in front of Aix-en-Provence and the Sainte Victoire mountain, copyright  T. Rostang for Airbus Helicopters\" width=\"695\" height=\"417\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/CDPH-5038-036-1024x614.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/CDPH-5038-036-300x180.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/CDPH-5038-036.jpg 1775w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 695px) 100vw, 695px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1522\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">H160 PT1 in front of Aix-en-Provence and the Sainte Victoire mountain, copyright T. Rostang for Airbus Helicopters<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_1525\" style=\"width: 705px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.airbushelicopters.com\/website\/docs_wsw\/img\/x2000\/y1600\/RUB_160\/tile_2608\/originals\/EXPH-0561-135_A4.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1525\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1525\" src=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/EXPH-0561-135_A4-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"H160 PT1 on parking, copyright Airbus Helicopters\" width=\"695\" height=\"391\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/EXPH-0561-135_A4-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/EXPH-0561-135_A4-300x169.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/EXPH-0561-135_A4.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 695px) 100vw, 695px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1525\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">H160 PT1 power on, copyright Airbus Helicopters<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stable, extremely easy, barely any vibrations, smooth like a flying carpet. The first words of the pilot after the landing\u00a0are very optimistic and encouraging. The model H160 by Airbus Helicopters, previously called prototype X4, made its maiden\u00a0flight on Saturday 13th, June, at the main plant in Marignane, southern France. With 24\u00b0C and 5 kt of <a href='http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/2015\/06\/h160-first-flight\/' class='excerpt-more'>[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1516,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[23,21,14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1513"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1513"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1513\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1608,"href":"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1513\/revisions\/1608"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}