Blue Edge

[1] During July 2007, flight testing of a five-bladed main rotor incorporating the Blue Edge blade design commenced using a modified Eurocopter EC155.

[2] The technology was first announced by Eurocopter at Heli-Expo 2010 in Houston, Texas; at the event, a company spokesperson claimed that tests conducted by the firm have indicated the new rotor blade was able to reduce the noise produced by a helicopter by three to four decibels.

[4] Such features reportedly included the Blue Edge rotor blades, advanced pilot assistance functionality, and reduced vibration to "near-jet" levels of smoothness.

In addition to the presence of the Blue Edge swept rotor blades, the demonstrator was outfitted with numerous other features for the purpose of exploring more efficient design elements, including economy-optimised single-engine operations, a relocated horizontal stabilizer outside the main rotor's downwash, an active rudder, and new water-based external paint; these changes were reportedly aimed at achieving a 40% reduction in overall fuel consumption from the standard model.

[9] In December 2014, it was revealed that the single-engine operations portion of the Bluecopter tests had been delayed to summer 2016 to perform necessary avionics changes, reportedly connected to the engine's FADEC systems.