Airbus Helicopters has taken a step forward on the CityAirbus
electric air-taxi concept with power-on of its "iron bird"
ground-test rig.
Located in Taufkirchen, to the south of Munich –
adjacent to an Airbus group facility in Ottobrun, and 60 miles (100km) from the
manufacturer's plant in Donauwörth – the rig will enable Airbus Helicopters to
verify the vehicle's entire electric propulsion system.
If the tests prove successful, the system – which
uses batteries to power four pairs of ducted rotors – will be installed on a
demonstrator aircraft in mid-2018.
Siemens is providing the motors, power electronics
and distribution system for the CityAirbus project, part of a broader
co-operation with the aerospace giant on electric propulsion.
Airbus Helicopters has produced the first structural
parts for the demonstrator aircraft and expects to achieve first flight by
end-2018. Manned flights of the four-person vehicle are due in 2019.
(Evangle Luo of TTFLY shared with you)
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