Green Rotorcraft
Environmental Objectives
Clean Sky / GRC– IPAS 2013
An objective-driven approach implemented
through demonstrators
Innovative Blades
Drag Reduction
Eco-friendly Design
More Electrical Rotorcraft
Optimised Flight Paths
High Compression Engine
on Light Helicopter
Clean Sky / GRC– IPAS 2013
Innovative Rotor Blades
- 3D-Optimized Blade
Blade design for improved performances (stall alleviation, increased lift
and reduced drag)
 PDR passed, Detailed design
of full scale rotor in progress
 TRL 5/6 to completion
(ground test demonstration)
- Active Gurney Flap rotor
Active device (Gurney Flap) actuated once per revolution and blended
into blades: lift increased and reduced power
 CDR passed
 Both model scale & full scale
tests under preparation
 Ground tests/ Flight test in 2014 (TRL6)
Clean Sky / GRC– IPAS 2013
Drag reduction
- Rotor hub & pylon
Optimisation of specific helicopter features (rotor hub, aft body, landing
skids,) to reduce drag effects
 Wind Tunnel tests in progress
(light& medium twin engine configs)
 Best solutions to be flight-tested in 2015-16 (TRL6)
- Flow separation control devices for drag reduction
Study of different active and passive devices
 Synthetic jets and steady blowing:
successful Wind Tunnel Tests (TRL 4)
- Engine installation
Optimised engine installation (air-inlet, exhaust pipe)for both
conventional and Tilt-rotor platforms
 ERICA tilt-rotor nacelle: Wind Tunnel verification
of inlet & bypass efficiency (scheduled in 2014)
Clean Sky / GRC– IPAS 2013
Towards a more electrical Aircraft
Sample Future System
Good results to date
- Energy Recovery
1st demo by end 2012
- Electrical Main Rotor
Actuators
CDR scheduled in July 13
- Starter/ generator
PDR passed
- Power Converter &
Storage
Detailed Requirements
Clean Sky / GRC– IPAS 2013
High Compression Engine on Light Helicopter
- Benefits of this Technology
 Lower fuel consumption (- 30% Specific Fuel Consumption)
 Reduction of emissions (-40% CO2, -50% NOx)
 Increased distances with the same amount of fuel
(roughly double is possible in
(roughly doubled in certain missions)
 Reduced Direct Operating Costs by up to 30% (DOC)
 Improved helicopter performance in hot & high conditions
- Technical Data
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Common rail high pressure injection (1800bar)
Turbocharger with air/air intercooler
Functions with kerosene
Core Engine Mass (dry): 197 kg/
Installed Powerpack: 249 kg
 Power output (@MGB inlet):
330kW up to 2500m and ISA+20°C
- Achievement on track
(39 months in total from design to integration)
March 2013- first engine test
Clean Sky / GRC– IPAS 2013
Early 2014 - first ground tests
Environment-Friendly Flight Paths
- Flight Procedures
 Designed with ATM specialists; data base acquired
 IFR and VFR procedures optimised for take-off and
landing phase:
 GPS-based approach
 Simultaneous Non Interfering approach (SNI)
- Flight Guidance systems
 Pilot guidance & autopilot designed
- Verification of acoustic efficiency
 Successful flight testing completed in June 13
for IFR-LPV automatic approach
Clean Sky / GRC– IPAS 2013
SNI approach
(@TLS airport/OPTIMAL project)
Towards promising results
Innovative Rotor blades:
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Active Twist Blade: blade segment tested
Active Gurney Flap: rotor tested (whirl tower, flight)
3D-Optimized Blade: rotor tested (whirl tower)
High Compression Engine Demo
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Q2/2015
IFR & VFR procedures & systems: validated in
operational environment
Underpinning & complementing SESAR (rotorcraft)
Drag reduction and shape optimisation
Q4/2015
Individual devices/mods: WT test (TRL4) or flight (TRL6)
Integration with interactions: WT test with complete model
(common platform GOAHEAD)
Technos for More Electrical Rotorcraft
Clean Sky / GRC– IPAS 2013
Q2/2014
Power pack: all bench tests passed
Iron Bird & helo ground tests passed; ready for flight testing
Environment-Friendly Flight Paths
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Q2/2015
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Q3/2015
Q3/2015
Subsystems & Equipment: Individual bench tests
Integrated system: Copper Bird testing (TRL5)
Electrical Tail Rotor (TRL 5)
Electric taxiing (TRL5)
Thank you for your attention