Airbus Helicopters says its new 5-6 ton X4 medium helicopter is on track for its first flight in 2015.
Little has been heard about the new aircraft since the departure of CEO Lutz Bertling in May last year. But speaking at Heli-Expo 2014 in Anaheim, Calif., Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury revealed several key milestones in the development of the new medium helicopter.
The company has started endurance tests on the main gearbox of the X4, while the composite structure for the aircraft will be delivered this summer. Faury says the X4 will achieve a 20% reduction in operating costs per passenger compared to the current generation of rotorcraft.