The Airbus hybrid between airplane and helicopter takes off: this is the aircraft that boasts the best of both worlds

The Airbus Racer can take off like a helicopter and fly almost as fast as an airplane. After years of development, the European manufacturer has presented to the public one of his most peculiar and ambitious projects: a hybrid aircraft which stands out for its versatility and, above all, for its operational efficiency.

The Airbus Racer formula is very different from any other product on the market. We are talking about a proposal that integrates a special aerodynamics fuselage, a helicopter rotor, fixed wing and propellers. All this in combination with an advanced engine power management system.

Racer, the Airbus hybrid

The Racer does not need an airplane runway to take off, but if one is available it can also be used to travel on them to gain speed and take off. Once it is in the air, Airbus assures, it reaches higher speeds than that of a conventional helicopter, but lower than that of an airplane.

One of the most notable advantages of this hybrid is its efficiency. It can save around 20% fuel compared to helicopters with similar characteristics. This is possible thanks to an aerodynamic optimization system and an “eco-mode” propulsion mode.

The Racer, as we say, has been in Airbus’ plans for years. The subsidiary Airbus Helicopters, whose headquarters are located in Marignane, focused on the project within the framework of the European plan Clean Sky that I sought to develop cleaner transportation technologies. The manufacturer now shows the evolution of the project.

He assures that not only has fuel consumption been reduced, but also the acoustic footprint. It should be noted, however, that this is a demonstration model that may undergo changes in its production model. Reuters points out that military units could be offered for NATO members.

In this sense, future Racer operators could benefit from its versatility and speed. “The objective of the Racer is not to go as fast as possible, but to offer operational capabilities upgraded at the right price for missions where speed can really be an advantage,” says Julien Guitton of Airbus.

Although the public announcement was made known this week, the hybrid flew for the first time days ago, although away from the media. Among those attending the event were industry executives, politicians and representatives of the European Union.

Images | Airbus

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