Airbus Helicopters successfully tested a light-weight V8 diesel engine in a demonstrator helicopter in November.
The high-compression engine–developed with the support of Austro Engine and TEOS Powertrain–was installed in an H120 airframe, which was flown from Marignane Airport in France.
Tomasz Krysinski, Head of Research and Innovation at Airbus Helicopters, said the flight proved the benefits of developed technology.
“The first result of the 30 minutes flight confirms the advantages of new-technology high-compression piston engines for rotorcraft in offering reduced emissions; up to 50% lower fuel consumption depending on duty cycle, nearly doubled range and enhanced operations in hot and high conditions."
The 4.6-litre high-compression piston engine incorporates technology already applied on advanced self-igniting engines, and runs on aviation turbine fuels such as Jet-A1. Its V8 design has the two sets of cylinders oriented at a 90o angle, with a high-pressure common-rail direct injection and one turbocharger per cylinder bank.
The development and flight test of this new technology demonstrator is part of the European Clean Sky initiative’s Green Rotorcraft Integrated Technology Demonstrator (ITD) program.
Clean Sky’s goal is to develop new technology that significantly increases environmental performance of the aviation industry, resulting in quieter and more fuel efficient aircraft. Environmental targets of Clean Sky are to reduce specific fuel consumption by 30%, carbon dioxide emissions by 40% and mono-nitrogen oxides by 53%.