Airbus unveils DisruptiveLab a flying prototype made of aerodynamic aluminium for R&D purposes

Recently, Airbus went on to launch DisruptiveLab, a new helicopter to test flight technologies for enhancing aircraft performance and decreasing the carbon footprint left by helicopters. The helicopter features aerodynamic aluminium and composite fuselage specifically made to reduce drag and decrease fuel consumption.

DisruptiveLab will be crucial for estimating the new aerodynamic architecture that helps to cut down the fuel intake. The helicopter will have a dual nature wherein a fully parallel hybrid propulsion system will charge the battery during flight. The new specimen will be ready for its first flight by the end of 2022, and associates are eagerly waiting for the simulation results.

Other than that, Airbus and Neste have agreed upon a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly uphold the production and uptake of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with the main aim of evolving the latter. This study will also include fuel approval alongside scrutinising the recent and future production technologies, finding out how 100 per cent SAF can be developed.

The CEO of Airbus Helicopters, Bruno Even, justified the move by saying: "The DisruptiveLab goes another step further in Airbus Helicopters' ambitious strategy to reduce the environmental impact of its helicopters and to lead the way towards a sustainable aerospace industry."

"The innovative architecture and the fully parallel hybrid propulsion system could only really be tested on a brand-new demonstrator in order to verify the combined impact in CO2 reduction, which could be as much as 50 per cent," he added.

Airbus has claimed that the construction of the DisruptiveLab incorporates an aerodynamic aluminium and composite fuselage created to decrease drag and curtail fuel consumption. The blades have been embedded within the rotor in a certain way that displays a more compact rotor head, diminishing drag and improving energy efficiency with lower noise generation. Its low-weight rear fuselage amalgamates a streamlined Fenestron tail rotor that helps to improve performance.

The DisruptiveLab demonstrator acts under the French Council for Civil Aviation Research Conseil (CORAC)'s roadmap and has been substantially funded by the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) as part of the French Stimulus plan.

In 2020, Airbus Helicopters began its testing with FlightLab, the company's first demonstrator. It uses a prevailing H130 platform designated primarily for the R&D of relevant technologies, with heightened automation and security.