Eurocopter is presenting its latest civil and military helicopters at the 2012 ILA Berlin Air Show (11-16 September 2012; Berlin ExpoCenter Airport).

Eurocopter’s innovative X3 technology demonstrator is in the spotlight from the air show’s opening, and is participating in the daily flight demonstrations.

This is the first time the hybrid aircraft – which combines the full hover flight capabilities of a helicopter with the cruise speeds of a turboprop-powered aircraft – is on show in Germany. Its innovative design, featuring both a main rotor and tractor propellers, was developed by Eurocopter in an effort to make long-distance, high-speed helicopter flight viable in both commercial and military applications.

“Our X3 and the other helicopters we are presenting at Berlin are proof of Eurocopter’s innovative leadership in the rotorcraft market. Our ongoing investments in breakthrough technologies respond to the needs of our customers, who want helicopters that offer ever higher levels of performance and safety while minimizing their impact on the environment. By driving continual growth in research and development, we also are making a major contribution to the future of the aviation industry, and of Germany as a center for high-tech industry,” said Lutz Bertling, President and CEO of Eurocopter.

Eurocopter is presenting its EC145 T2 in the static display in the ILA Berlin Air Show’s HeliCenter. This enhanced EC145 – the latest version of Eurocopter’s light twin-engine multi-mission helicopter developed and produced at the company’s Donauwörth, Germany center of excellence – boasts improvements in both performance and safety. Its military version is ideally placed to meet the growing demand for a light twin-engine multi-role helicopter suitable both for transport missions and special operations.

Also at the air show, Eurocopter is using the EC135 to demonstrate the versatility of its product line. This helicopter will be present in an emergency medical services configuration for LPR (Poland’s public air medical rescue operator), and as a police helicopter for France’s Gendarmerie, and in its EC635 military version.

In addition, Eurocopter is presenting one of the latest additions to its Ecureuil family: the AS350 B3e.

State-of-the-art technology for the Armed Forces: Tiger, NH90 NFH and CH-53GA The Tiger support helicopter and the NH90 naval helicopter that are exhibited at the ILA Berlin Air Show represent the latest generation of military helicopters currently in service with Armed Forces around the world.

Also on display is the CH-53GA – a result of an important modernization effort involving the close cooperation of Eurocopter and the German Army.

Another air show highlight will be a representative full-scale fuselage cross-section segment of the Future Transport Helicopter (FTH), which is to be exhibited at the show’s HeliCenter - giving an idea of this rotorcraft‘s size and payload capability.