Airbus Racer
The experimental Airbus Racer aircraft made a successful test flight, in which it accelerated to a cruising speed of 420 km/h. This is not a world record for helicopter-type vehicles, to which this unit belongs. But on the other hand, it is no longer correct to call it a "helicopter", since it is a kind of hybrid, a variation on how to cross a helicopter and an airplane.
The Achilles heel of all helicopters is their main rotor. Firstly, it limits the speed of the machine due to its physical parameters. Secondly, the helicopter is kept in the air only by using fuel to rotate this propeller, which is extremely uneconomical. Engineers have been looking for ways to overcome these limitations for a long time, and the craftsmen from Airbus went the easiest way.
Airbus Racer
The Airbus Racer does not have a tail rotor, instead, massive racks are installed on the sides of the device, on which huge pushing screws are mounted. The racks themselves perform the functions of wings, providing, albeit small, but still support for the air. This reduces the load on the main screw and reduces fuel consumption when hovering. And during horizontal flight, the propellers provide impressive thrust and ease of operation. It is stated that when the Airbus Racer, after climbing, switches to cruising flight mode based on improvised wings, it begins to consume 15-30% less fuel compared to its analogues. In the future, this may become a new standard, as energy savings come to the fore. Helicopters will acquire functional wings and become something new - not yet airplanes, but devices already close to them.
Alexander Martynenko
