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Airbus Helicopters Unveils H160 Medium Twin

Today at Heli-Expo 2015 Airbus Helicopters unveiled the H160 medium twin, the long-awaited successor to the Dauphin series designed to lock horns with the AgustaWestland AW139 in the 12-passenger market. Codenamed X4 until now, the clean-sheet design features Blue Edge main rotor blades for quieter operation, a canted Fenestron tail rotor for more payload and the Airbus Helicopters-developed Helionix avionics suite installed on the EC145T2 and EC175. Other innovations include a full composite airframe, a biplane stabilizer—for improved main-rotor efficiency—and an electrically actuated landing gear. Airbus Helicopters is displaying a full-size mockup at Heli-Expo. First flight is planned for this year and entry into service in 2018. For the offshore oil-and-gas mission, the H160 will offer class 1 takeoff performance for 12 passengers and a 120-nm radius of action. In search-and-rescue configuration, hover out of ground effect can be maintained at up to 5,000 feet and range reaches 450 nm with a 20-minute reserve. The smooth cruise speed will be 160 knots, without any counter-vibration system. Airbus Helicopters plans to begin taking orders for the H160 next year.