H160 Soars Into the Future: Revolutionizing In-Flight Comfort with Groundbreaking Tests

Marignane, 28 July 2016 – Airbus Helicopters proudly announces a significant achievement: the validation of the H160’s aeromechanical configuration. This milestone marks a crucial step in confirming vital aspects of the next-generation twin-engine helicopter’s design and operational performance.

“With over 200 hours of successful flight-testing and the completion of this important milestone, we have affirmed various key design assumptions and even surpassed some expectations in real-world conditions,” stated Bernard Fujarski, Senior Vice President of the H160 programme. “Now that we have fully opened the helicopter’s flight envelope, we are confident that this next-generation helicopter will redefine flight standards for both passengers and crew,” he added.

Throughout its extensive flight-testing campaign at the Marignane facility in France, the H160 has showcased remarkably low vibration levels alongside outstanding aircraft stability, establishing new benchmarks in the aviation industry.

“Achieving low vibration levels has been a primary objective since the programme’s inception, and the results we’ve observed affirm our belief that the H160 will set a new standard for comfort across all mission segments, including Emergency Medical Services (EMS), passenger transport, and business aviation. We eagerly anticipate our customers experiencing this exceptional comfort for themselves,” Fujarski remarked.

The next phase of the flight campaign will concentrate on hot weather trials during the summer, followed by ongoing performance evaluations of the Arrano engines fitted to both prototypes. Cold weather tests are also scheduled for later this year. Additionally, a third prototype will join the flight-test programme next year, further supporting the certification process ahead of the H160’s anticipated entry into service.