Is the Future of Helicopters in Bell’s New Concept Aircraft?

A new helicopter concept has been released by Bell Helicopter that incorporates new and emerging aircraft design technologies. Helicopters, in general, are becoming a more safe, smart, and more efficient way to travel and the FCX-001 concept is no different in that respect.  It looks different to most other helicopters around too, with its rotor-less tail boom, variable, cabin layouts, hybrid propulsion systems, modified landing gear, and new airframe composition materials.  It also has rotor blades capable of morphing to suit the need of the pilot.

Mitch Snyder is Bell Helicopter President and CEO and he says, “For the past 80 years, Bell Helicopter has imagined the art of the possible and brought those dreams to life.  Six months ago we created a dedicated team to focus on emerging technologies and how we could incorporate them into our products.  Among that team’s first tasks was to display visually the technologies and innovations that present a roadmap that we envision bringing to the market.”

The helicopter’s anti-torque tail boom system is powered by a propulsion system that combines a thermal engine core with electric motors.  The heat transfer engine powers the helicopter while the electric motors keep it from spinning off in the opposite direction to the blades.  As for the helicopter’s airframe, that would be made from sustainable materials and would be built for strength, room, and visibility.  It would also be equipped to harvest, store, and distribute energy.  The pilot would control the aircraft using the same augmented reality that the passengers can use to check the news, share the document, or watch a movie among other things.