Electrification of Helicopter: Actual Feasibility and Prospects

Currently, various companies consider the step by step electrification of aircraft. The use of electrical energy has a number of benefits associated with the improvement of the technical performance of the aircraft, such as the increase of their environmental performance and the reduction of operating costs and damages. The most important role for the problem solution plays the traction electric drive. This paper presents an attempt to carry out a preliminary analysis of the actual feasibility and prospects of creating an innovative type of electrical helicopter's propulsion system based on fuel cells and a superconducting electric motor for the conventional Airbus helicopter EC135.