What’s the world’s fastest helicopter to date?

What if helicopters could rival airplanes in speed? The Eurocopter X3 (pronounced “X-cube” in French) pushed back the limits by reaching 472 km/h on June 7, 2013, a feat that reinvented aeronautics and made it the world’s fastest helicopter.

Part helicopter, part airplane, this technological gem has paved the way for a new generation of hybrid aircraft. How does it work? What challenges has it overcome? And above all, could it one day transform our business trips or emergency missions?

Immerse yourself in the history of this legendary machine, discover its promising successors, and explore how AEROAFFAIRES makes customized helicopter rental accessible.

Source: Wikipedia

Origins and objectives of the X3 program, the world’s fastest helicopter

The Eurocopter X3 is a girodyne, a hybrid between a helicopter and an airplane. In concrete terms, when hovering, it can be flown like a helicopter, while in flight, it can be converted into an airplane by flying horizontally.

It was built by Eurocopter, which became Airbus Helicopters in 2014, to compete with the Bell-Boeing CV-22 Osprey.

In the early 2000s, the two aviation giants were looking for the best way to combine the range and speed of an airplane with the ease of use of a helicopter. However, this required a substantial budget.

Eurocopter therefore launched the X3 program with the sole intention of carrying out aeronautical demonstrations, as opposed to mass-producing a new aircraft.

How was the Eurocopter X3 created?

The Eurocopter X3 is a combination of two aircraft:

• It has an engine-driven main rotor for vertical movement, like a helicopter.
• Its traction (horizontal movement) is maintained by one or more engines, similar to that of an airplane.

The AS-365N3 Dauphin 2 is used as a working model, hence its strong external resemblance to the Eurocopter. The latter also has the five-bladed rotor of the EC155 and the complete transmission system of the EC175.

The turboshaft engines are Rolls-Royce Turboméca RTM322s. In all, 35% of parts are designed specifically for the Eurocopter X3.

One of the special features of the Eurocopter is that it has no tail rotor, replaced by two turboprop engines mounted on short wings, enabling high acceleration. What’s more, the propellers are positioned so that acceleration is horizontal. Braking is also far more efficient than on conventional helicopters. The main gearbox drives both the main rotor and the two turboprop engines.

The first flights of the Eurocopter X3 took place in September 2010 in the south of France (Istres-Le Tubé air base 125).

The Eurocopter X3 can accommodate two people and weighs 5,200 kilograms. It is intended to be used for rescue and search missions, but will never be put into service or used for air transport.

Source: Wikipedia

What is the average speed of a helicopter?

The average cruising speed of a helicopter is 300 km/h, compared with 850 km/h for an airplane. This is due to the operating principle of a helicopter and its rotor.

What is the Eurocopter X3’s speed record?

The Eurocopter X3, a hybrid helicopter developed by Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter), is a concentrate of technological innovation. Designed to combine the maneuverability of a helicopter with the speed of an airplane, it pushes back the limits of aeronautics.

Its standard cruising speed is already impressive: 407 km/h . But the X3 doesn’t stop there. In 2011 , during a test flight, it reached 430 km/h while using less than 80% of its power. This performance drew immediate attention, especially when it was unveiled at the Paris Air Show that same year.

In 2012 , the aircraft crossed the Atlantic for a two-month demonstration campaign in the United States , winning the prestigious Howard Hughes Award from the American Helicopter Society .

But it was on June 7, 2013 that the X3 truly became a legend. During a level flight at an altitude of 3,050 meters, it reached the speed record of 472 km/h (255 knots) in horizontal flight, after exceeding 483 km/h (263 knots) in the descent phase. This historic flight set an unlicensed speed record for a helicopter.

The X3’s main competitor at the time was the Sikorsky X2 , another American hybrid helicopter, designed primarily for military missions. Unlike the latter, the X3 was characterized by its natural stability, with no need for anti-vibration systems or reinforced stabilization.

After 3 and a half years of development, 199 test flights and 155 flight hours, the X3 adventure came to an end. The only prototype built became a museum piece: first exhibited at the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace in Le Bourget, alongside the Concorde and Mirage IV, it was transferred in 2017 to the Musée de l’Aviation in Saint-Victoret, near Marseille, where it continues to amaze enthusiasts.

Ranking of some of the world’s fastest civil and military helicopters (2025)

1. Eurocopter X3 (Airbus Helicopters) – 472 km/h

The Eurocopter X3, Airbus Helicopters’ technology demonstrator, still holds the speed record for a helicopter, reaching 472 km/h in 2013.

2. Sikorsky X2 – 463 km/h

This prototype set a speed record in 2010, laying the foundations for later developments such as the S-97 Raider.

3. Bell V-280 Valor

The Bell V-280 Valor is a tiltrotor selected by the US Army in 2022 to replace Black Hawk helicopters as part of the FLRAA (Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft) program.

The combat version is designed to reach a cruising speed of 518 km/h over a radius of 1,480 kilometers.

The transport version, on the other hand, is limited to a speed of 280 km/h for a range of 3,900 kilometers.

4. Raider X

The Raider X, successor to Sikorsky’s X2 unveiled in 2019, is designed for use by the US military, combining the latest technological advances. Also based on the S-97, it can reach speeds of up to 463 km/h.

5. Airbus RACER

The Airbus RACER (Rapid and Cost-Effective Rotorcraft) demonstrator made its first flights in 2024, reaching a cruising speed of 407 km/h and a top speed of 420 km/h.

It is designed for missions such as emergency medical services, search and rescue.

In addition, it aims to reduce fuel consumption by 20%, thanks to a hybrid architecture and “eco-mode” technology enabling one engine to be switched off during cruising flight.

6. Westland Lynx – 400 km/h

Once the holder of the official record set by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) at 400 km/h since 1986, this British helicopter remains an historic benchmark for speed.

6. United Aircraft Zhang Ying R6000

In 2024, China unveiled the Zhang Ying R6000, a 6-ton tiltrotor drone capable of a cruising speed of 550 km/h and a range of 4,000 km.

Although primarily intended for passenger and freight transport, its performance makes it one of the fastest vertical take-off aircraft in the world.

Video presentation of the Eurocopter X3 :

How do I rent a helicopter?

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• Request a quote online,
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We also offer additional services, such as hotel and restaurant reservations to suit your flight plan, chauffeur-driven cars for ground transportation, etc

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