Solution F/Chretien Helicopter Explained

The Solution F/Chretien Helicopter is a coaxial electric helicopter prototype designed and built by Pascal Chretien for the Solution F company in France. The aircraft is intended to be a demonstration and exploration of several key electrical power technologies for use in future hybrid helicopters.[1] The helicopter is the first all electric helicopter to hover out of ground effect[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] and set a Guinness World Record on August 12, 2011. It received an IDTechEx Electric Vehicles Land Sea & Air award in 2012.[7] [8] The prototype is on permanent display at the Musée de l'air et de l'espace in Paris le Bourget, France[9]

Design and development

This prototyping platform was created to explore and demonstrate technologies leading to all electric, or hybrid mechanical-electric, helicopter drivetrains. Two key goals are the elimination of expensive, safety critical, non-redundant, mechanical only helicopter transmissions; and the provisioning of battery assisted, emergency landing capabilities as an alternative to forced autorotation straight to the ground. Both technologies are expected to greatly improve the safety and practicality of helicopter flight.[10]

The prototype Solution F/Chretien Helicopter is a coaxial rotor "hang" helicopter . Pitch and roll are controlled by weight shift. The entire rotor is tilted in relation to the suspended airframe to shift the center of gravity, thus no cyclic control is required. These features were generally implemented on the demonstrator for simplicity and expedience and were incidental to the research and demonstration goals. Yaw is controlled by differential torque applied to the two rotors. The two rotors are each driven by a separate 20 KW electric motor. Power is supplied by twenty one, 106 AH Li-ion Polymer cells with a power density of 160 WH/Kg. The unique cooling solution developed for the pack allows 500 Amps to be delivered for 10 minutes, while keeping the battery pack's frame and cooling system down to less than 5% of the pack cell weight.

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://nari.arc.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/19_Kontinos_Hoppers_PhaseI_final.pdf NASA Aeronautics Mission Directorate FY11 Seedling Phase I Technical Seminar; Page 19
  2. https://lithiumbalance.com/wp-content/uploads/World_first_manned_electric_helicopter.pdf First manned electric helicopter flies
  3. Web site: Modern-day aviation pioneer achieves world's first untethered, manned electric helicopter flight . Gizmag.com . 5 September 2011. 2013-05-09.
  4. http://www.rotorandwing.com/2012/09/26/designer-of-electric-helo-reflects-on-2011-flight-tests/ Designer of Electric Helo Reflects on 2011 Flight Tests
  5. Web site: Vertiflite First Electric Helicopter April 2012 . Scribd.com . 2013-05-09.
  6. Web site: 1ère Mondiale en Provence : le premier hélicoptère électrique . Solutionf.fr . 9 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207050731/http://www.solutionf.fr/1ere-mondiale-en-provence-le-1er-helicoptere-100-electrique/. 7 December 2013.
  7. Guinness World Records (2013) First electric helicopter, retrieved 9 May 2013
  8. Web site: Electric Vehicles Land, Sea and Air USA 2012 - Award winners . Electric Vehicles Research . 2012-04-05 . 2013-05-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20180718150607/https://www.electricvehiclesresearch.com/articles/4315/electric-vehicles-land-sea-and-air-usa-2012-award-winners. 18 July 2018. dead.
  9. Air and Space Museum First electric helicopter
  10. Chretien, Pascal, M.E. (undated), Paving the way to hybrid helicopters Paving the way to hybrid helicopters, retrieved 9 May 2013

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