Since the development of the Tiltrotor in 1955, fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off or landing vertically, it’s been more than 60 years since a similar innovation has led to civilian applications. But now, successful experiments with the Airbus Helicopters X3 demonstrator, have enabled them to design and develop a hybrid aircraft, combining the helicopter’s low-speed hovering with the high-speed flight comfort of an airplane, that’s extremely effective in terms of both performance and cost.
That’s why the IADP FRC program, capitalizing on X3 demonstrator, intends to develop a new Low Impact Fast & Efficient RotorCraft (LifeRCraft) for civilian customers, a large-scale compound rotorcraft demonstrator to enhance the European aviation industry competitiveness. The goal is to combine vertical take-off and speed in safe conditions and at an optimised cost.
The LifeRCraft architecture combines fixed wings for energy-efficient lift, open propellers for high-efficiency propulsion, and a main rotor that provides vertical takeoff and landing flight capabilities. Such a future compound aircraft would combine higher cruise speeds with excellent vertical takeoff and landing performance at affordable operating costs, making it well-suited for such vital public service duties as emergency medical airlift, search and rescue, coast guard and border patrol operations, while contributing to the overall enhancement of mobility through operations ranging from passenger transport and inter-city shuttle services to off-shore airlift for the oil and gas sector.
The LifeRCraft project aims at developing and flight-testing in 2020-2021 a full scale demonstrator which embodies the new European compound rotorcraft architecture. In 2017, the involvement of all Core Partners and Partners of the Clean Sky Programme will allow completing the Preliminary Design phase. The individual technologies of the Clean Sky Programme (Green Rotorcraft, Systems for Green Operations and Eco-Design ITDs) aiming at reducing gas emission, noise impact and promoting a greener life cycle will be further matured and integrated in this LifeRCraft demonstration.
LifeRCraft will flight close to 480km/h which is 1.6 faster than conventional helicopters by evolving in a height about 10 000 feet. These performances confirmed by X3 demonstrator offers important market perspectives but conventional concept associated to specific technology/material has to be replaced due to increase of airloads and environmental constraints:
• The emergency exits rubber seal with zipping systems will not support the maximum speed and will be directly pull-out due to aerodynamic loads.
• The conventional cabin footstep which is fixed and metallic will create too much drag and will endanger the stability and safety of the helicopter.
That’s why the cLEvER project is needed. The main objectives of the cLEvER project are to develop new innovative composite emergency exits and electronic cabin footstep based on carbon material, to be assembled on LifeRCraft (Fast Rotorcraft). The different materials and processes and the overall structure should lead ultra-high reliable and safety systems while operating in the high strain and vibration conditions which are met by the Fast RotorCraft (FRC) whilst also decreasing costs (recurring and operating, 10% cheaper than existing products thanks easier industrialization process and cost-effective materials) fuel consumption (5% less, by decreasing weight and aerodynamic drag), and noise (5% less than actual rotorcrafts).
