The X3 Concept

[TheProPilot]

The pylon looks like it was about to vibrate off. not something I was expecting, but it makes sense. It's in the direct airstream of the main rotor. I'm sure it's been engineered for, but I bet it's uncomfortable in hover. I wonder how the high speed turbulence is dampened by the wing and rotor combo.

[Nexgcs]

rotordyne!

[erokone]

is it me or was the horizontal rotor vibration...lol i'll pick the sikorsky s 97 raider--[secretly wishing the comanche was never canceled]

[Lock601]

See Fairey Rotodyne

[Lock601]

See Fairey Rotodyne: Rear Access, something like a CH-47 Chinook, but faster, slightly less payload flew 4 years before the Chinook. Rear access is the way to go. Tip-jet rotor, autorotation in cruise, reduced drag on the main rotor and no torque because there is no engine turning the rotors. Hope to see it again

[SlideRulePirate]

Not being funny but in what significant ways does this concept differ from the Fairey Rotodyne from the 50's?

[zebadee277]

i think a contra rotating main rotor set would be a better step with the fixed wings concept

[erzan]

The music, am I watching a hybrid helicopter fly or some blockbuster summer films' climatic battle scene? lol

[typhoonzsmk]

This scheme is bad idea.

- complex airframe to provide toughness

- overmass (see prev)

- one of siderotors works alot harder

- another rotor gives parasite resistence in forward flight

- big overall resistance

i see only purpouse of this thing - developing a new highspeed main rotor

[lazarra101]

True, there might be dangers in every flight situation but then again This to me is a really great instrument since I aspire to be a helicopter pilot.

[Afrocanuk]

That's really a very old concept dating back to 1936 of the FL-185. watch?v=mo8_C5J3F3o&feature=re­lated

[Celeon999A]

What about turning the side engines 180 degrees around, change the shape of the rotors and make use of a pusher propellor concept instead ?

That might eliminate the possible threat to the pilots aswell as improving their field of view

[stot2614]

I'd rather fly in a civilian version of the V-22 Osprey than this concept. Besides, Sikorsky has already beat Europcopter to the punch with their X2... no vibrations in the fuselage and it has the fastest helicopter speed record right now.

[s966181]

dam that thing is huge! i still like the Sikorsky X2 tho, sorry.

[skeilak]

I realize this is a proof-of-concept aircraft, but it's really got a pricey, complicated, high maintenance "feel" about it. Less so than a "Tilt-Roter", but still, how much of a gain are you really getting over conventional helicopters? And is it worth it?

I also have to wonder how long it will be, before some poor soul gets careless, and is ingested by one of the tractor props. Wouldn't it have been a bit safer to use a pusher configuration, keeping the props out of the bird's "people area"?

[JcXtreme72]

I don't see the point to this at all. What is the practical aplication? I can understand that it must have more forward thrust then any other if designed to utilize it properly but like previous stated the side rotors would cause a huge safety hazard if it's speed were actually used to help man kind like in an medi vac type situation.

[mobius1aic]

Compound helicopter.....how new (yes it uses a new driving system, yada yada).....

Sure is unsafe to have those propellers in such close proximity to where people will be entering or exiting the aircraft.

[4245047]

I can’t believe the lake of innovation by repeating the same ideas over and over instead of the danger of tail rotor in conventional helicopters they replaced it with two massive propellers even closer to the ground. I see more components hence more chances of failure and less safety. Actually they might as well create a heli that consists only of rotors and rotors and more rotors surrounding a cabin. Oh and buyers please be careful when inspecting wires. Also note the wing vibration at 6:30

[tiltrotorcoaxialheli]

nice! my channel has flight tests of a Coaxial Tilt Rotor Freewing, which if scaled up would be capable of Osprey like top speeds or more!

[hjl0924]

The concept idea is good, but ...

I wonder if the twin props can change the pitch or not.

If so, does it counter the torque from main rotor, and flying direction?

If it is used for rescue, then it looks very dangerous! The two props will kill people!!!

[brendonnz1964]

Why dont they adopt the Kamov 52 Co-axial concept, much easier.

[TimKGrimes]

This would make landing to and taking off from side slopes impossible. Rough areas? Impossible. Loading passengers with engines / rotors turning? Impossible.

Great concept though. Requires a different compound thrust system, however.

I think Lockheed did this in 1965, but it worked.

[sakpan39]

It had a lot of vibration. If they can solve this, then they have a winner.

[BR1GAND]

Ok it can hover, lets see how fast it goes.

[Clavsicus]

Hell YEAH!!! Score +1 for EUROCOPTER xD

[KingStar1984]

wow that thing goes FAST!!!

[Sk3pt]

I hope they'll improve to looks of this thing... cos it looks awful.

[muigaulwurf]

One thing that bothers me: how are you supposed to enter in the back when the engines are running?

[TheRealMichaelBaer]

Awesome!! =)

[arquimedon]

Huge vibrations! I wanna seit on horizontal flight!

[meugen06]

It's a prototype.There are a lot of things gone be improved.

[rnciano]

A lot of vibrations along the tail and in twice propeller, especially during hovering. But it's a really advance idea to increase speed of helicopter.

[pilotpat86]

Yeah, crazy vibrations on the wings and tail! Interesting concept though...

[auswolf350]

Wouldn't the side rotors prove to be a serious danger to anyone attempting a fast side exit / entry to this aircraft? eg...military dustoff. Is there a safety mechanism or procedure to prevent injury from these side props? At least with previous versions of this vehicle the rear rotor was completey concealed. Sacrificing safety for speed? Not sure about this one.

[EurocopterEADS]

@auswolf350 and every body with the same relevant remark/question; you must understand that it is a concept, a demonstrator to test new systems and technologies. It will not be put in production. No mission dedicated, no troops and no passenger.

[auswolf350]

@EurocopterEADS Well in that case, Good Luck with the tests. Hopefully the designers learn something from this

[adzhoo]

@auswolf350 Imagine a X3 based on NH90.. You might get a cargo door at the rear and no danger anymore linked to the tail rotor.. pros and cons...

[mothergta]

i love it :D

[CognosSquare]

The cruiseing speed, 180 knots = 333.36 km/h. They are aiming at 400 km/h

[Thereisnosp00000n]

This is not a cross between a plane and a heli. The combined wing area seem to be too small to actually provide any substantial amount of lift. In my eyes this is nothing but a heli with two assist rotors.

[KhanFus1on]

There were quite a few projects of compound helicopters like half a century ago and all of them failed (some perhaps for political reasons), what makes this one different?

[diioriog]

Keep on working on it, this machine is not ready for flight at all.

[palaskecea]

What a beauty, buy the key point is: cost per gallon of gas. How about a research in electric motors?

[superbrown69]

At time there are many resonance vibrations. Unfortunately, in my personal evaluation of this solution is not nice to see but I hope that the performance would in the future. Good luck and good job

[dan428]

Yeah.. it really didn't look stable. Like strato said, the side props were wobbling just while hovering, and the tail was as well. I can't imagine that thing is ready to fly at high-speed, I certainly wouldn't want to pilot it. The cockpit view they showed for a few seconds was clearly shaking violently.

I suppose it's just a concept for now though.. they need to refine the design.

[LTF85199]

Great idea, a lot of visual vibrations are there to iron out..

[1971ojoalparche1971]

From this footage it looks like this chopper vibrates terribly during flight, but I'm sure they'll fix that. In any case, it doesn't matter because that guy says it will be affordable, so I guess it's time to break my piggy bank open.

[nipponhouseplayer]

WOW, Tour De Kopter! But I have to say @ 195 kts in the ec 155 is very respectable!

[ZangLangVang]

It is only a prototype. It will be refined during its development. This concept is not new, it was used in the thirties and WW2 by Germans. In near future, we'll see the series product. Remember, the Eurofighter first prototype flew in 1987. After almost 20 years it entered in service. And after thousands of modifications to the original design, and several thousands of software versions for its computers.

[Karabasan1915]

i've scheduled the manufacturing of some parts. That was fun, of course congratulations!

[Knightryderr6]

Can't wait till I get one, I'm on the waiting list

[MrPingping04]

yup this is just a test flight...you can see vibration is soo strong...its not ready for service yet.

[vox1philippines]

nice  !!!

[bugattipenner]

The two rotors are really dangerous, esecially when you want to use it as a medical helicopter, isn´t it?

But it looks really cool and fast

Good luck

[michaelcis]

Good job on the new helicopter! any idea what song is playing in the background by any chance please?

Thanks

[dru4m]

interesting concept but the vibration observed is incredible even for a rotocraft, I suspect it's being caused by the interaction of the rotor down wash & the props. I don't see this competing with the X2 or a tilt rotor. It's bound to be heavier, slower, cost more to maintain & have less range but will be interesting to see. I'm excited & would love to be proven wrong.

[stratosjoebar]

it had A LOT woble in flight, the wings and tail had big vibration.....

[goofi54]

@stratosjoebar good to read that I am not the only one to see it - still some work left for the EC engineers, but a promising concept

[emaans]

@stratosjoebar its obvious the wings will have be stabilized,they already know it

[emaans]

@stratosjoebar its obvious the wings will have be stabilized

[KingOfKnights1015]

@stratosjoebar I agree, It looks like it was glued on by Some cheap glue and also the "wings" with the propellers on them. Lots of vibration and seems highly unstable.

[calstate]

@stratosjoebar I agree. It was vibrating a lot. Looks like it would be a very uncomfortable ride. It also looks very complicated to fly. Not sure about this one?

[NoOdL3z18]

@stratosjoebar it is still a prototype, I'm sure they can work out the kinks with more testing.

[team222badbrad]

@stratosjoebar I noticed that too and those props look very dangerous compared to other aircraft.

[thecollective10]

@stratosjoebar Yea I was about to say the same thing.

[mx5speedracer]

@stratosjoebar True!!

[VolantPneu]

@stratosjoebar Bah oui mon chouchou, mais c'est un proto, il va pas emmener des passagers les prochains jours !

[XxMFFxX]

@stratosjoebar

also getting in a helicopter while its still running is not an option any more as you'll be chopped to bits ,, but still great concept

[gmugrumbach]

Could be all that downward thrust created by the rotors pushing down on the wings. And the motor was huge!

[Pigasus42]

@stratosjoebar The vibration looked (to my not-an-expert eye) like a harmonic.

[MisterFigge]

@stratosjoebar I think it get's more stabil when they fly faster

[luddomatic]

@stratosjoebar ya i saw that too , BTW what its max speed ?

[nemesishearth]

@stratosjoebar

thats why it's a concept.

[Asymptotic86]

@stratosjoebar I think the same, but it's still a prototype

[motokid032]

@stratosjoebar

That was the first thing I noticed, it looked like it was going to vibrate itself apart.

[jkyet]

@stratosjoebar Yeah, but your not going to stop trying new things and solutions because they dont work perfect the first time around. Its great to see someone trying something different for a change.

[gameplaya117]

@stratosjoebar Its a pretty big deal that it can stay together at that speed, so lets just be satisfied with this for now.

[EurocopterEADS]

@stratosjoebar it was true, it was its really first flight before a lot of tests and improvments but check the new video, no more vibrations!

[twogunz3083]

@stratosjoebar optical illusion from the conspicuity stripes on the props

[xzaxx]

@stratosjoebar its pretty clear that the wings had lots of vibration. doesnt look safe.