Vision Systems to produce composite structures for Clean Sky 2 RACER program

 

 

 

Vision Systems is participating in the Clean Sky 2 European research program with Airbus Helicopters, to develop a demonstrator rotorcraft called RACER (Rapid And Cost-Effective Rotorcraft). Optimized for a cruise speed of more than 400 km/hr, this demonstrator will incorporate a host of innovative features, and it will aim to achieve the best trade-off between speed, cost-efficiency, sustainability and mission performance. This new rotorcraft is designed as an air taxi, alternative to business jets, or as a new generation of military, oil & gas and rescue helicopter. Final assembly of the demonstrator is expected to start in 2019, with first flight in 2020.

Vision Systems will develop two composite jettisonable window frames for the cockpit and one for the cabin, as well as an electric composite footstep. This motorized footstep can fold down and up, back into the structure of the rotorcraft, in flight, which the company says is a world first. Cabin windows will be equipped with Vision Systems’ X-Lite composite glass.

These innovative solutions proposed by Vision Systems are based on its expertise in composites and mechatronics. This production know-how, in addition to its mechanics and electronics expertise, enables Vision Systems to offer complete functional built-to-spec systems with breakthrough features.

 

Fibertech composites unit

Since its creation in 2005, Vision Systems has produced composite products for the aircraft industry using resin transfer molding (RTM) and thermocompression processes. These products include helicopter cyclic sticks, sun visor casings, window stiffeners, tubes and shells for shading systems. In response to the growing need for aviation and helicopter products integrating composites, Vision Systems established in 2015 a new production plant dedicated to high-end composite solutions, Fibertech.

Vision Systems invested 3 million euros in its Fibertech composites unit. With a surface area of 3,500 square meters, Fibertech has recently integrated laser machines, a cutting table, a heating chamber, an autoclave and a CNC center to continue advancing Fibertech's industrial performance. Its production capacity tripled since 2014, enabling serial production of helicopter composite window frames and aircraft window casings, as well as serial production of large composite frames addressed to the marine market. The company is projecting sales in excess of 6 million euros by 2022.