Blue Pulse: Active Rotor Control at Airbus Helicopters - New EC145 Demonstrator & Flight Test Results

In 2009 a new Airbus Helicopters - formerly Eurocopter - active flap demonstrator based on the serial EC145 airframe made its first flight. This demonstrator successfully supported the consolidation of gained expertise on vibration control and BVI noise reduction but also the development of new functionalities such as in-flight tracking and stability enhancement. In 2006 a world premiere had been achieved by flight-testing active rotor control through actuation of trailing edge flaps on a BK117 experimental test-bed. During this first campaign, the understanding of different control strategies had been significantly pushed and underlying theory and technology successfully validated. In parallel to flight testing, Airbus Helicopters is continuously investing in the development of more mature and efficient actuation, rotor design and power generation technologies in order to get closer to serial challenges. This paper presents a broadband overview of Airbus Helicopters activities covering the last years of active rotor control in flight. Furthermore, it addresses key issues for second generation active systems offering more mature technologies.