Eurocopter’s X3 Hybrid Helicopter Concludes U.S. Tour

Marignane, France - Eurocopter has completed its seven-week U.S. X3 demonstration tour. The high-speed, long-range hybrid X3 returned this week to its home base at the Istres Flight Test Center in southern France.

During its U.S. tour, the X3 made appearances in four states from Texas to Virginia, logging more than 55 hours performed by the Eurocopter test crew, along with opportunities for 47 guest pilots to take the controls. Pilots commented on the helicopter's stability and low vibration level, acceleration and deceleration, the capability to make steep descents while controlling the speed, the aircraft’s capacity to hover nose-down or nose-up, and its ability to be flown throughout the entire flight envelope with the autopilot off.

“We are highly encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive feedback from potential future U.S. civil and military users, which once again confirms the need for such a new approach that combines game-changing performance with highly cost-effective economics,” says Lutz Bertling, Eurocopter president and CEO. “The X3 represents the future of aviation, and we are convinced it can significantly enhance operations across multiple sectors, as underscored by the feedback we received at every stopover in the United States.”

For more information, visit www.eurocopter.com.