This website uses cookies
More information
The monthly news publication for aviation professionals.

Why visit ACE ’25?

Related background information from the Handbook...

Airbus Helicopters
Aircraft

Airbus Helicopters H160

BAN's World Gazetteer

France
The monthly news publication for aviation professionals.

Request your printed copy

Airbus Helicopters enters fully composite H160 into medium class
Airbus Helicopters presented its all-new H160 at Heli-Expo, which it says will raise standards for performance, cost effectiveness, passenger comfort and environmental impact.
Read this story in our March 2015 printed issue.

Airbus Helicopters presented its all-new H160 at Heli-Expo, which it says will raise standards for performance, cost effectiveness, passenger comfort and environmental impact. It is the first product introduced with the Airbus Helicopters corporate identity and revised numbering designation.

Its payload lift, range and efficiency make it suited to oil and gas operations, public services, air medical and coast guard duties, commercial transport and charter. It has a cruise speed of 160 kts, can carry 12 passengers at distances of up to 120 nm for oil and gas missions, and has a 450 nm range with 20-minute reserve in public service or search and rescue tasks.

The design of the helicopter includes the manufacturer's largest ever Fenestron tail rotor, and a biplane stabiliser that are claimed to reduce aerodynamic penalties in low speed flight and hover.

An additional technology installation is Airbus Helicopters' initial production use of its Blue Edge main rotor blades, which reduce exterior noise levels by 50 per cent and allow a payload increase of up to 100 kg when compared to traditional rotor blades, depending on flight conditions. The H160 is the first fully composite civil helicopter, meaning it weighs less. Helionix avionics are also installed.

Development of the H160 began in 2013 as the X4, with the definition of the final aircraft configuration confirmed this year. The helicopter's first flight will also take place in 2015 and service entry is planned for 2018.

As the first helicopter to be released under the new Airbus Helicopters identity, the H160 introduces the company's updated product line names. Consistent with the strategies of Airbus, the AS and EC letters for in-production helicopters are replaced by H.

Other News
 
H125 final assembly line to be built in India
July 26, 2024
A locally assembled helicopter will open civil and parapublic markets in India, such as helicopter EMS and other public services, making them a critical component of nation-building. In future, H125s can be ‘Made in India’.
Airbus Racer speeds past 400kph
July 25, 2024
Less than two months after its first flight, the Airbus Racer exceeded its level speed objective of 407km/h by reaching 420kph in its initial configuration.
RTX collaborates on hybrid-electric system for Airbus demonstrator
July 22, 2024
Memorial Hermann debuts H160 for HEMS
July 19, 2024