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Airbus Helicopters FlightLab tests eVTOL flight controls
Airbus is using its FlightLab helicopter testbed to evaluate flight controls for its CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL aircraft. (Image: Airbus)

Airbus Evaluates Flight Control System for CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL Aircraft

Airbus Helicopters' FlightLab has tested an electric flight control system as part of a new human-machine interface (HMI) for the Airbus CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL prototype. In a first for the helicopter industry, the system uses a single flight control stick to replace three-axis, conventional helicopter controls (cyclic, pedals, collective) to perform all aircraft maneuvers including takeoff and landing, climb, descent, acceleration, deceleration, turn, and approach.