Airbus' New Flying Laboratory to Test Decarbonisation Focused Technologies

(05/12/22)  Airbus unveiled a new flying laboratory designed to test technologies destined to improve aircraft performance and reduce helicopters’ CO2 emissions at its annual summit last week.

The DisruptiveLab will evaluate the new aerodynamic architecture intended to reduce fuel consumption, as well as pursuing the implementation of hybridisation with a fully parallel hybrid propulsion system that enables the battery to be recharged in-flight.

The architecture features an aerodynamic aluminium and composite fuselage, specifically designed to reduce drag and thus reduce fuel consumption.

Airbus' new flying laboratory will test technologies destined to improve performance and reduce CO2 emissions

The blades are integrated into the rotor in a way that allows for a more compact rotor head which reduces drag and therefore improves energy efficiency while lowering the perceived noise level.

Its lighter rear fuselage incorporates a streamlined Fenestron tail rotor that also contributes to improved performance.

The demonstrator will take to the skies before the end of 2022 in order to begin flight testing and maturing the new technologies.

“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,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “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 percent.”

The DisruptiveLab demonstrator is part of the French Council for Civil Aviation Research Conseil (CORAC)’s roadmap and has been partly financed by the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) in the frame of the French Stimulus plan, which is part of the European Plan, Next Generation EU, and the France 2030 plan.

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