Hybrid helicopter and autogyro will be launched for budget flights

The British company Arc Aero Systems presented a project for a new hybrid helicopter. The main task of the project is

make air travel more cost-effectiveand reduce carbon emissions. The hybrid Linx P9 can outperform similarly sized models in terms of range, speed and operating cost.

Photo: Arc Aero Systems

The glider is a cross betweenan airplane, a helicopter and a gyroplane—a rotary-wing aircraft. The all-composite construction weighs only 1930kg excluding cargo. The nine-seat cabin is similar to a helicopter, but differs in a thin main wing 12.6 m long with a pair of 2-meter pusher propellers at the rear, as well as a large tail wing and fins.

The large 13 meter top propeller is not connectedwith a tail rotor. The Linx P9 also uses an electric motor that spins the upper rotor fast enough for vertical takeoff and landing.

Various interior options Linx P9. Photo: Arc Aero Systems

After takeoff, the pusher propellers are turned on, and asonly the speed increases, the wings take on more than 90% of the lift, and the upper rotor can be immediately slowed down. This reduces drag and also eliminates the asymmetrical lift that helicopters experience due to blade stall. As a result, the Linx P9 develops a maximum cruising speed of 370 km/h. Similar results were observed with a coaxial helicopter with a twin rotor Sikorsky X2.

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