{"id":1072,"date":"2013-04-26T19:00:43","date_gmt":"2013-04-26T17:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/?p=1072"},"modified":"2013-04-26T18:10:14","modified_gmt":"2013-04-26T16:10:14","slug":"eurocopter-new-x3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/2013\/04\/eurocopter-new-x3\/","title":{"rendered":"Eurocopter: new X3"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Should we call it <strong>X3e<\/strong>, like all the current new models at Eurocopter?\u00a0Or X3i? Or X3+? Or X3\u00b2?<\/p>\n<p>Yesterday, Eurocopter presented a new concept, a helicopter where the pilot is only an option. The EC145 c\/n 9001 is the usual research aircraft of the company, known recently for the &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nVXV9tTOlvI\" target=\"_blank\">Blue Pulse<\/a>&#8221; program, intended to reduce the rotor noise.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1075\" style=\"width: 578px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_4.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1075\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-1075 \" alt=\"EC145 OPV Istres, France, Eurocopter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_4.jpg\" width=\"568\" height=\"214\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_4.jpg 947w, https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_4-300x113.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1075\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">EC145 OPV F-ZWAM, Istres, France, Eurocopter<\/p><\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"695\" height=\"391\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-z9LdL-VA3E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>However, not only the new drone was presented. A small surprise was displayed at the end of the movie. You thought the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/performance\/oneaircraft\/Eurocopter\/X3-X3\" target=\"_blank\">X3<\/a> was there only by chance? Of course not!<\/p>\n<p>The Istres Air Base is the most suitable flight testing area in France. All previous test flights of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/performance\/oneaircraft\/Eurocopter\/X3-X3\" target=\"_blank\">X3<\/a> were made there and even the main runway was adapted to land the American space shuttles.<\/p>\n<p>A closer look onto the prototype makes it clear: the rotor head and the top of the airframe have been modified.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1078\" style=\"width: 554px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/X3e_3.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1078\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1078\" alt=\"X3 seen from behind, optimised for high speed\" src=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/X3e_3.jpg\" width=\"544\" height=\"280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/X3e_3.jpg 544w, https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/X3e_3-300x154.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 544px) 100vw, 544px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1078\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">X3 seen from behind, optimised for high speed<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 528px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/performance\/illustrations\/Eurocopter\/X3-X3\/side_rear.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"   \" title=\"X3 seen from behind, Paris Air Show 2011\" alt=\"X3 seen from behind, Paris Air Show 2011\" src=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/performance\/illustrations\/Eurocopter\/X3-X3\/side_rear.jpg\" width=\"518\" height=\"346\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">X3 seen from behind, Paris Air Show 2011<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Yes, the aircraft is being prepared for very high speeds. Eurocopter&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/performance\/oneaircraft\/Eurocopter\/X3-X3\" target=\"_blank\">X3<\/a> is becoming a fierce competitor to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/performance\/oneaircraft\/Sikorsky\/X2-X2\" target=\"_blank\">Sikorsky&#8217;s X2<\/a>. Mr Bertling is preparing to leave his seat as a CEO to Mr Faury next week and this challenge is indeed a great gift: the company displays its innovative skills.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1076\" style=\"width: 605px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/X3e_1.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1076\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1076\" alt=\"X3 and EC145 OPV on ground -&quot;the best is yet to come&quot;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/X3e_1-1024x574.jpg\" width=\"595\" height=\"333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/X3e_1-1024x574.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/X3e_1-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/X3e_1.jpg 1360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 595px) 100vw, 595px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1076\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">X3 and EC145 OPV on ground -&#8220;the best is yet to come&#8221;<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Do you remember the DGV, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/performance\/oneaircraft\/Eurocopter\/Dauphin__2-AS365-DGV\" target=\"_blank\">Dauphin Grande Vitesse<\/a>, which became once the fastest helicopter with 372 km\/h in 1991? The aircraft never forgot its appetite for the records. In fact, some parts of the Dauphin DGV were removed and the helicopter was modified to build the X3.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 528px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/performance\/illustrations\/Eurocopter\/Dauphin__2-AS365-DGV\/general.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"   \" alt=\"Aerospatiale Dauphin DGV, speed record breaker in 1991\" src=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/performance\/illustrations\/Eurocopter\/Dauphin__2-AS365-DGV\/general.jpg\" width=\"518\" height=\"331\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aerospatiale Dauphin DGV, speed record breaker in 1991<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Now, for the pleasure of your eyes, enjoy these pictures from the movie.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1074\" style=\"width: 605px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_3.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1074\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1074\" alt=\"EC145 OPV during accuracy freight landing\" src=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_3-1024x570.jpg\" width=\"595\" height=\"331\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_3-1024x570.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_3-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_3.jpg 1507w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 595px) 100vw, 595px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1074\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">EC145 OPV during accuracy freight landing<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_1079\" style=\"width: 605px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_1.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1079\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1079\" alt=\"EC145 cockpit, Optionnally Piloted Vehicle\" src=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_1-1024x555.jpg\" width=\"595\" height=\"322\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_1-1024x555.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_1-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_1.jpg 1590w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 595px) 100vw, 595px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1079\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">EC145 cockpit, Optionnally Piloted Vehicle<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_1073\" style=\"width: 605px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_2.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1073\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1073\" alt=\"EC145 OPV during freight flight\" src=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_2-1024x577.jpg\" width=\"595\" height=\"335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_2-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/EC145_OPV_2.jpg 1297w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 595px) 100vw, 595px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1073\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">EC145 OPV during freight flight<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_1077\" style=\"width: 605px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/X3e_2.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1077\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1077\" alt=\"EC145 OPV and X3 in Istres\" src=\"http:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/X3e_2-1024x599.jpg\" width=\"595\" height=\"348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/X3e_2-1024x599.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/X3e_2-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/X3e_2.jpg 1298w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 595px) 100vw, 595px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1077\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">EC145 OPV and X3 in Istres<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Should we call it X3e, like all the current new models at Eurocopter?\u00a0Or X3i? Or X3+? Or X3\u00b2? Yesterday, Eurocopter presented a new concept, a helicopter where the pilot is only an option. The EC145 c\/n 9001 is the usual research aircraft of the company, known recently for the &#8220;Blue Pulse&#8221; program, intended to reduce <a href='https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/2013\/04\/eurocopter-new-x3\/' class='excerpt-more'>[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1078,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[20,21,22,4,14,5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1072"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1072"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1072\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1097,"href":"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1072\/revisions\/1097"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1078"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blueskyrotor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}