Nu mber 11 /120/ November 2019
English summary
TOP FLIGHT
An Airbus you can’t keep
your eyes off
The helicopter was the center-
piece of the triumvirate of Air-
bus helicopters at the show,
along with the ACH145 and the
lighter ACH135 – all designed for
use on yachts. The ACH160 land-
ed and took off from the 139-me-
ter Lürssen Flying Fox. The he-
licopter had set a new standard
for corporate transport, com-
bining innovative technologies,
speed, comfort and style. Its in-
terior concept is the result of
collaboration between ACH Cre-
ative Style Studio and Harri-
son Eidsgaard, one of the most
sought-after names in the su-
peryacht design industry. The
fi rst two ACH160s are on the fi -
nal assembly line at the Airbus
factory in Marignan. EASA cer-
tifi cation of the H160 (transport
confi guration) should be com-
pleted by the end of the year,
and the fi rst ACH160 will be de-
livered next year.
We can safely say that with
the H160 a new chapter is be-
ginning in the history of Airbus.
Combining the best qualities of
the H145 and H175 models, this
innovative mid-range helicop-
ter is the company’s first H gen-
eration helicopter. The entire
design was based on one over-
riding goal: to create added val-
ue for customers in terms of
flight performance, econom-
ic competitiveness, safety and
comfort. The H160 is more envi-
ronmentally friendly and quiet-
er, and is a step forward a step
forward in respect for the envi-
ronment. Modifications are be-
ing developed for oil and gas
companies, corporate transpor-
tation and private clients, for
commercial transportation and
for government use.
The H160 is equipped with
a fully composite design with
dynamic lines and a futuris-
tic design that differs from its
predecessors. It has a fl at cab-
in fl oor, huge portholes and
a large luggage compartment
with a carrying capacity of 661
pounds. The passenger cabin
can be confi gured to accommo-
date four or eight passengers
with all the “bells and whistles”
that are present in the latest
models of large business jets, or
simply accommodate 12 people.
H160 Program Manager
Bernard Fujarski told Top Flight
that the helicopter is equipped
with many new technologies,
including the Blue Edge ro-
tor blades and horizontal bi-
plane stabilizer, which reduce
noise levels and improve fl ight
smoothness, new Safran Arra-
no engines that deliver a 10-15%
fuel economy and the Helionix
avionics system with four large
touch screens, which is already
used on other Airbus twin-en-
gine helicopters, including the
H135, H145 and H175. In order
to optimize costs, Airbus decid-
ed to abandon the costly Fly-
by-wire system and not include
a rotorcraft anti-icing system
as standard. However, there are
many other useful technologi-
cal innovations included in the
standard package.
The Blue Edge blades have
a tip with a bend similar to a
hockey stick. When the blades
rotate, a vortex is created at the
ends. The tips reduce the length
of the blade-vortex interaction
and the result is a in the heli-
copter’s acoustic signature by as
much as 5 dB.
Arrano engines (1300 hp)
are equipped with a two-stage
centrifugal compressor and ad-
justable guide vanes at the in-
let, reducing fuel consumption
at all stages of fl ight, in particu-
lar, in cruising mode. They con-
tribute to accelerating the H160
to a maximum cruising speed of
160 knots and achieving a prac-
tical ceiling of 20,000 feet, with
a range of 450 nautical miles.
Airbus Helicopters also claims
that Arrano will have lower op-
erating costs than other engines
in its class.
Helionix Avionics is de-
signed to reduce workload by
providing pilots with the re-
quired information in good
time. The system is connected to
a four-axis autopilot and an in-
dicator of fl ight mode restric-
tions, which displays all the pa-
rameters of the engine. Other
advanced features include route
and weather recommenda-
tions, a ground obstacle avoid-
ance system, and a synthetic vi-
sion system.
The H160 helicopter is al-
so equipped with an angled
tail rotor fenestron, which fur-
ther reduces its acoustic sig-
nature. The canted fenestron
and biplane tailplane stabi-
lizer improve takeoff perfor-
mance. The chassis and electric
brakes, which replace the tra-
ditional hydraulic systems, re-
duce the weight of the helicop-
ter and increase its reliability.
The on-board monitoring and
diagnostic system monitors key
maintenance parameters and
sends them to technicians on
the ground through data trans-
mission channels when the heli-
copter is in the air.
Airbus believes that the to-
tal maintenance costs of the
H160 will be closer to those of
light helicopters with two en-
gines than medium-lift helicop-
ters, and that this helicopter
will be one ton lighter and 15-
20% more effi cient than its main
competitor, the AgustaWestland
AW139, which has been huge-
ly successful.
Last month, Airbus Corporate Helicopters
(AC H ) s h o w c a s e d i t s s u p e r- m e d i u m AC H 1 6 0
helicopter to potential customers at the
M o n a c o Ya c h t S h ow.