Hutchinson lifts off with new helicopter materials

Paris – Hutchinson claims to have taken a major step forward in the helicopter market with the introduction of “innovative” materials and a new sub-system approach.

For the Airbus Helicopter H160 programme, Hutchinson’s aerospace teams developed three fluid transfer systems: Fuel circuit; Freon air conditioning circuit Hot air bleed circuit

The Freon and fuel circuits have been developed in thermoplastics to replace elastomer/metal and PTFE pipes, according to a 19 June company statement.

The change, it said, represents a “major technological advance” in terms of: system weight-reduction; need for few components components; simplified assembly; and corrosion risk.

Hutchinson linked the development to a “cross-fertilisation” between its internal activities and complementary know-how between the automotive and aerospace markets.