[{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022republish_modal_form\u0022\u003E\u003Cform class=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form ecl-form\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 action=\u0022\/en\/article\/modal\/13903\u0022 method=\u0022post\u0022 id=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 accept-charset=\u0022UTF-8\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHorizon articles can be republished for free under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003EYou must give appropriate credit. We ask you to do this by:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n      1) Using the original journalist\u0027s byline\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n      2) Linking back to our original story\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n      3) Using the following text in the footer: This article was originally published in \u003Ca href=\u0027#\u0027\u003EHorizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003ESee our full republication guidelines \u003Ca href=\u0027\/horizon-magazine\/republish-our-stories\u0027\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003EHTML for this article, including the attribution and page view counter, is below:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textarea form-item-body-content js-form-item-body-content ecl-form-group ecl-form-group--text-area form-no-label ecl-u-mv-m\u0022\u003E\n        \n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n  \u003Ctextarea data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 aria-describedby=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 id=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 name=\u0022body_content\u0022 rows=\u00225\u0022 cols=\u002260\u0022 class=\u0022form-textarea ecl-text-area\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ESilent speed: the fast, fuel-efficient European helicopter setting the pace for clean aviation\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBrice Makinadjian and Stephane Deport, both engineers at Airbus Helicopters, looked on proudly as a sleek blue-and-white helicopter zipped over the crowds at the Paris Airshow in June 2025.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESlicing through the air was the Airbus RACER (Rapid and Cost-Effective Rotorcraft), an advanced prototype designed to be faster, quieter and more fuel-efficient than conventional helicopters.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis high-speed, low-emission rotorcraft is redefining helicopter flight by blending the speed of an aeroplane with the agility of a rotorcraft \u2013 all while slashing CO2 emissions by approximately 25% compared to a conventional helicopter of the same weight category.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow it started:\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;European team effort\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe RACER\u2019s roots go back to the EU\u2019s\u0026nbsp;Clean Sky 2 programme (2014\u20132024), the largest research programme for aviation ever launched in Europe.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis public-private collaboration between the\u0026nbsp;European Commission and the European aeronautics industry funded the development of innovative, cutting-edge technologies to reduce the aeronautics sector\u2019s environmental impact.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022text-center text-blue font-bold text-2xl w-full lg:w-1\/2 border-2 border-blue p-12 my-8 lg:m-12 lg:-ml-16 float-left\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Cspan class=\u0022text-5xl rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n  \u003Cp class=\u0022font-serif italic\u0022\u003EWe could not have done this without European collaboration and support.\u003C\/p\u003E\n  \u003Cfooter\u003E\n    \u003Ccite class=\u0022not-italic font-normal text-sm text-black\u0022\u003EBrice Makinadjian, Airbus\u003C\/cite\u003E\n  \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe support provided under Clean Sky 2 made it possible for the various components of the RACER\u0026nbsp;\u2013 such as aerodynamics, engine integration and rotor systems\u0026nbsp;\u2013 to be incrementally refined before being tested together in the demonstrator built by Airbus, a leading European aerospace company.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis partnership has been fundamental,\u201d said Makinadjian. \u201cWe could not have done this without European\u0026nbsp;collaboration and support.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe development of the prototype has involved over 40 European companies and research organisations from 13 countries. \u201cWe have access to the best of Europe,\u201d said Makinadjian. \u201cIt is the European spirit at its finest.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ECleaner future for European skies\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe RACER is also part of Europe\u2019s mission to make flying greener. Under the European Green Deal, the EU has pledged to become climate\u0026nbsp;neutral by 2050, and aviation is no exception.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe EU\u2019s Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy sets the goal of having zero-emission aircraft ready for market by 2035. This would mark a major step toward climate-neutral aviation and a cleaner future for European skies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhy does this matter?\u0026nbsp;As\u0026nbsp;Axel Krein, executive director at the\u0026nbsp;Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (2025\u20132035) \u2013\u0026nbsp;Clean Sky 2\u2019s successor\u0026nbsp;\u2013\u0026nbsp;pointed out,\u0026nbsp;aviation is a powerhouse for Europe\u2019s economy. It supports\u0026nbsp;13.5 million jobs\u0026nbsp;and contributes\u0026nbsp;over \u20ac1 trillion to the European economy. That is\u0026nbsp;3.6% of all jobs and 4.4% of Europe\u2019s GDP.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Krein, the importance of the RACER demonstrator for Europe is evident. Such new designs will help secure Europe\u2019s aerospace leadership in the future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cCurrently, Europe has a market share of 58% of new civil aircraft worldwide, so Europe\u2019s aviation leadership is strong. But it is not guaranteed,\u201d he said. \u201cGlobal competition and geopolitical shifts are threatening this leadership.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EStealth and speed\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter over 10 years in development, the new technologies being showcased in the RACER prototype could become an essential part of helicopter design over the coming decade.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe RACER\u2019s sleek aerodynamic design and side-mounted lateral rotors give it a cruising speed of over 440 km\/h \u2013 over 50% faster than\u0026nbsp;regular helicopters.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the factors is the reduced air and wind resistance, or drag, as it moves through the air. This is 2.5 times lower than in other helicopters of the same weight.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe have a lower drag than the smallest helicopters on the market today,\u201d said Makinadjian.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe main rotor was redesigned, reducing its speed, to increase stability. At the same time, two wings were added at the sides with\u0026nbsp;lateral rotors to provide forward thrust.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis means that the RACER can fly like an aeroplane in certain flight phases, using its wings and\u0026nbsp;lateral rotors to glide forward, making it\u0026nbsp;effectively\u0026nbsp;a cross between a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EEco-mode\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;innovative Eco Mode system is another standout feature,\u0026nbsp;similar to the start-stop function in modern cars, that will soon be tested on the RACER.\u0026nbsp;Developed by Safran,\u0026nbsp;the Eco Mode involves putting one of the two engines on standby during cruise flight, allowing the other to operate at a more optimal and energy-efficient power setting.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis mode of operation not only reduces CO\u2082 emissions and fuel consumption by around 15%, but also increases the distance that can be covered by the helicopter.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe can fly at 350 km\/h on only one engine,\u201d said Deport. \u201cBut we also need to be able to restart the other engine instantly to keep it safe.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOverall, the improved aerodynamics and innovative design allow the RACER to use\u0026nbsp;25% less fuel\u0026nbsp;than slower, conventional helicopters.\u0026nbsp;As the team gears up to begin testing the Eco Mode feature, they expect to achieve even more fuel savings.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to\u0026nbsp;commercial transport, the\u0026nbsp;developers predict that the RACER could be ideal for emergency medical services and search and rescue operations because of its speed and efficiency.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEmergency response helicopters need to be fast and noise reduction is key to perform operations close to inhabited areas,\u201d said Makinadjian.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFrom cars to choppers\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA total of 40 partners collaborated on the creation of the RACER.\u0026nbsp;One unexpected partner in the RACER\u2019s journey was\u0026nbsp;KLK Motorsport, an SME from Germany specialised in high-performance mechanical engineering, lightweight structures and advanced composite materials.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022text-center text-blue font-bold text-2xl w-full lg:w-1\/2 border-2 border-blue p-12 my-8 lg:m-12 lg:-ml-16 float-left\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Cspan class=\u0022text-5xl rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n  \u003Cp class=\u0022font-serif italic\u0022\u003EEurope\u2019s aviation leadership is strong. But it is not guaranteed.\u003C\/p\u003E\n  \u003Cfooter\u003E\n    \u003Ccite class=\u0022not-italic font-normal text-sm text-black\u0022\u003EAxel Krein, Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking\u003C\/cite\u003E\n  \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBetter known for its expertise in car racing rather than aerospace, KLK co-developed the RACER\u2019s canopy \u2013\u0026nbsp;the sleek, enclosure over the cockpit that needs to handle airflow efficiently to optimise aerodynamics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir involvement highlights one of the RACER\u2019s greatest strengths: the\u0026nbsp;wide collaboration that went into its development, which brought in the expertise of major industry players, but also specialised SMEs and leading research organisations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWorking with people outside aerospace is invigorating,\u201d said Makinadjian. \u201cThe creation of new parts for car racing moves at lightning speed. When we told them they had five years to develop a \u201cvery innovative and light\u201d canopy, they were surprised,\u201d he laughed. \u201cIn racing, everything needs to be delivered yesterday.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFlying into the future\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe RACER prototype took to the skies for the first time in April 2024. More than a year on, it has logged around 35 hours of flight time, but there is plenty more testing ahead.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite their deep involvement in the design, engineers Makinadjian and Deport have yet to fly in the RACER themselves. \u201cOnly eight people, besides the test pilots, have been able to,\u201d said Makinadjian. \u201cWe\u2019re still on the waiting list.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETests continue at the Airbus Helicopters\u2019 headquarters in Marignane, near Marseille in southern France. Early results are encouraging. But Makinadjian and Deport are still working hard to finetune the technical details. For them, this is just the start.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat excites them most is simply being part of the journey. \u201cIf you\u2019re an aerospace engineer, this kind of project only comes along once in a lifetime,\u201d said Makinadjian. \u201cTo go from nothing to seeing your design take flight \u2013 it\u2019s magical.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the RACER continues its test flights, it is not just pushing the boundaries of rotorcraft speed \u2013 it is charting the course for a new era of more fuel-efficient, smarter aviation in Europe.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EResearch in this article was funded by the EU\u2019s Horizon Programme. The views of the interviewees don\u2019t necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. If you liked this article, please consider sharing it on social media.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/textarea\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n            \u003Cdiv id=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 class=\u0022ecl-help-block description\u0022\u003E\n      Please copy the above code and embed it onto your website to republish.\n    \u003C\/div\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cinput autocomplete=\u0022off\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022form-ggqawa3dwvxzw0vzsxzsbcwc-2dgxihlod32bs5dyw4\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_build_id\u0022 value=\u0022form-GGqAWa3dWVXZW0VZSXzSBcwc_2DgxiHLod32bs5dYw4\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Cinput data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_id\u0022 value=\u0022modal_form_example_modal_form\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003C\/form\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E","dialogOptions":{"width":"800","modal":true,"title":"Republish this content"}}]