Eurocopter delays plans for diesel helo

Two years ago Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling said he hoped to see a diesel-powered EC120 flying in 2011, but this past January he conceded that that milestone event might still be “a few years” in the future. While the company has made progress toward the necessary power and weight reductions, he cited a need for more progress in reliability. Eurocopter has had difficulty finding the right partner to develop the diesel powerplant. France-based turboshaft specialist Turbomeca has shelved its plans for such an engine, foreseeing no major progress on weight reduction in the near future.