在2015年巴黎航空展上，空客直升機(jī)公司宣布了全新的直升機(jī)開發(fā)計(jì)劃，現(xiàn)名為X6直升機(jī)。但這并沒有減弱公眾對(duì)另一熱點(diǎn)的關(guān)心，因?yàn)槊绹?guó)聯(lián)合技術(shù)公司正打算出售西科爾斯基，而傳聞空客公司是對(duì)其的思慕已久的公司之一。不管如何，空客公司新的直升機(jī)開發(fā)項(xiàng)目不可避免地成為了輿論的焦點(diǎn)。
大載重直升機(jī)X6項(xiàng)目的前兩年被稱為“定義期”。在此期間，空客公司將對(duì)下一代旋翼飛機(jī)進(jìn)行調(diào)整（特別是燃油和汽油方面），使其適合民航市場(chǎng)。但空客同時(shí)表示，它還能用于搜救、VIP接送和其他應(yīng)用，其中甚至包括軍事項(xiàng)目。
在概念設(shè)計(jì)階段，研究人員將對(duì)這架雙引擎飛機(jī)的主要架構(gòu)和設(shè)計(jì)選擇進(jìn)行評(píng)估，使其滿足客戶的操作要求。期間，他們將與全球各地的客戶進(jìn)行溝通交流，從而確定需要為X6賦予哪些價(jià)值。在隨后的兩年內(nèi)，他們將評(píng)估、選擇主要設(shè)計(jì)架構(gòu)，并鼓勵(lì)客戶提供建議。
X6是空客直升機(jī)H代機(jī)型的最新成員，而上一款大獲成功的H機(jī)型便是在今年六月剛剛完成首飛的H160。（空客直升機(jī)最近將這一產(chǎn)品名稱從“EC”系列改為了“H”系列）。
“在未來十年內(nèi)，X6之于重型直升機(jī)的重要性就相當(dāng)于H160今天在中型直升機(jī)中的地位。它會(huì)為整個(gè)行業(yè)樹立設(shè)計(jì)與生產(chǎn)策略的標(biāo)桿，因?yàn)槲覀儠?huì)動(dòng)用核心國(guó)家的工業(yè)產(chǎn)能，其中包括波蘭即將建成的生產(chǎn)設(shè)施，”空客直升機(jī)公司總裁兼首席執(zhí)行官Guillaume Faury解釋道。“我們的目標(biāo)是為市場(chǎng)提供效率最高的直升機(jī)，而且它還將不斷進(jìn)化。”
在定義和研發(fā)階段，空客直升機(jī)公司就希望創(chuàng)造一架成熟的、適應(yīng)于全天候（包括全面除冰）的下一代雙引擎旋翼飛機(jī)，而且從第一批成品上市，起就必須達(dá)成這個(gè)目標(biāo)。X6將使用電傳操縱控制系統(tǒng)，這是空客公司首次使用的重要?jiǎng)?chuàng)新技術(shù)之一。Turbomeca公司早已踴躍自薦，希望成為X6的發(fā)動(dòng)機(jī)供應(yīng)商，但它仍需與來自北美的其他公司展開激烈競(jìng)爭(zhēng)。
作為空客直升機(jī)公司的最新項(xiàng)目，X6將與該公司的其他新型旋翼飛機(jī)（其中包括最新的被稱為“超級(jí)中型機(jī)”級(jí)別的H175，以及H160）共享許多特征。
一旦概念設(shè)計(jì)階段足夠成熟，那么緊接著將展開后續(xù)研發(fā)，并預(yù)計(jì)在2020年左右正式上市。
空客直升機(jī)公司在全球152個(gè)國(guó)家內(nèi)擁有3000多家客戶，現(xiàn)役直升機(jī)共1.2萬架左右，每年飛行時(shí)間超過300萬小時(shí)。全球員工超過2.3萬人，2014年?duì)I業(yè)收入為65億歐元。
Airbus Helicopters looks to the future in heavy-lift rotorcraft with the X6 concept
Airbus Helicopter's announcement at the Paris Air Show about the beginning of the concept phase for a new helicopter, currently called the X6, didn't quite knock off the tip of everyone's tongue the fact that UTC has officially put Sikorsky out to bid, with Airbus being one of the company's whispered admirers. But it was anything but ignored.
The launch of the heavy-lift X6 begins a two-year definition period on this next-generation rotorcraft that will be tailored for and targeted to the civil market, specifically oil and gas, but Airbus says it will also certainly be suited for search and rescue, VIP, and other applications that could include military variants.
Major architecture and design choices for the twin-engine aircraft will be assessed to meet customer operational requirements during the concept phase, supported by a significant dialog with customers worldwide to validate the X6’s value creation for their operations. Major design architecture choices to be evaluated, and customer input sought, during the next two years
The X6 is the newest arrival in Airbus Helicopters’ H generation, continuing on from the success of the recently unveiled H160, which took its first flight in June. (Airbus Helicopters recently renamed its product range replacing the former “EC” designation with an “H.”)
“X6 will be for the heavy segment in the next decade what the H160 is today for the mediums. It will set new standards in the industry not only for design, but for its production strategy as well, as we will rely on the industrial capacities of our core countries, including the upcoming pillar in Poland,” explained Guillaume Faury, the President & CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “Our objective is to bring to the market the most efficient helicopter [that] will evolve in the future.”
In defining and developing the X6, Airbus Helicopters is striving for a next-generation, twin-engine rotorcraft that is mature and all-weather ready—including full de-icing—from the first delivery. One of the major innovations to be integrated on X6 is Airbus Helicopters' first use of a fly-by-wire flight control system.Turbomeca has already eagerly raised its hand for the X6's engine configuration, but it is quite likely other hands from North America will be raised high as well.
As the latest program to benefit from Airbus Helicopters, the X6 will share commonality features with the company’s latest rotorcraft – including both the new H175 (considered to be in the "super medium" class) and H160.
Once adequate program maturity has been achieved in the concept phase, a subsequent development phase will follow, leading to an X6 entry into service anticipated in the 2020s.
Flying more than 3 million flight hours per year, the company’s in-service fleet includes some 12,000 helicopters operated by more than 3000 customers in 152 countries. Airbus Helicopters employs more than 23,000 people worldwide and in 2014 generated revenues of 6.5 billion Euros.
在定義和研發(fā)階段，空客直升機(jī)就希望創(chuàng)造一架成熟的、適應(yīng)于各種氣候條件（包括全面除冰）的新一代雙引擎旋翼飛機(jī)，而且從第一批成品上市起就必須達(dá)成這個(gè)目標(biāo)。X6將使用電傳操縱控制系統(tǒng)，這是空客公司首次使用的重要?jiǎng)?chuàng)新技術(shù)之一。