Airbus's VSR700 Rotary-wing UAV Takes Flight | Aviation International News

Airbus's VSR700 Rotary-wing UAV Takes Flight

The VSR700 unmanned helicopter is intended to serve onboard vessels of the French navy to extend their surveillance horizon

During its first flight the VSR700 remained tethered to comply with safety restrictions. (photo: Airbus)

By David Donald • Contributor - UK

November 13, 2019

Airbus Helicopters has flown the first true prototype of its VSR700 rotary-wing unmanned aerial system (RWUAS). The craft flew at a drone test center near Hélicopteres Guimbal’s facility at Aix-en-Provence in southern France on November 8. During the initial trial, the VSR700 made a number of takeoffs and landings, the longest flight being around 10 minutes. The RWUAS was fitted with stabilizing outriggers and remained tethered on 30-meter cables to comply with safety restrictions imposed by airworthiness authorities. Trials will now proceed toward free flight.

This trial comes a year after Airbus flew an optionally piloted demonstrator for the VSR700, which is based on the Hélicoptères Guimbal Cabri G2 two-seat light helicopter, designed by a former Eurocopter engineer. The VSR700 prototype that flew recently is redesigned with a sleeker profile and a payload bay replacing the flight deck. It is fitted with an advanced autonomous flight control system.

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