Imagine this: shuttling through the mountain meadows with the precision of a laser beam thus people down below are not even bothered by the conversations above. This is the magic style of Airbus Helicopters H130 which is also known as the Eurocopter EC130 B4. The mainstay of this helicopter is the groundbreaking Fenestron tail rotor. Rather than just being a quieter vehicle, it is an alternative way of getting around the city and enjoying a scenic flight, for instance, by going through the canals of urban skyscrapers, or over the vineyards the high-flying Fenestron stays by your side without even making a sound. Imagining this possibility, all you need to do is to land on the roofs of the buildings or go to hidden houses very secretively.
The performance is just as remarkable. The H130 is no more the type of helicopter that struggles through a slow ascent. It rises vertically with great power. The average cruising speed is usually around 240 km/h (130 knots), and it is not long before you are at your destination. Are you going to make a route linking the cities or to reach a secluded island? Your maximum range goes up a realistic 610 kilometers. Freedom becomes real when you get from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe or when you hop between Caribbean islands without always searching for fuel.
In the cabin, the feeling of space comes to you as a surprise. It can accommodate 6 passengers, and it is furnished as a lounge rather than looking like an airplane pod. The immense horizontally positioned windows build up the escapism factor of every flight by giving the passengers the feel of being in a private aircraft. You will see the sky from one end to the other. Of course, comfort has been taken care of as well, with soft seating, near-silent environment generated by special soundproofing, and good quality of air through the ventilation which produces an atmosphere that makes you arrive not tired but instead fresh and active. Baggage has also been given a place without adding discomfort to the seating area.
The pilots express their admiration for the agility of the helicopter. The command system provides excellent feedback, so the hard landings on a crowded landing area or the trips to the wind-beaten ridges become safe and manageable. Together the flight security sensors which are neatly set up offer support but are not an encumbrance. It is a machine brought to life for the pilots who are fond of an art.
The H130 though is multifunctional; it is perfect for busy, tight corporate schedules, for transporting people over fantastic surfaces, or for life-saving missions. All that is wrapped in an appealing package. It has the attribute of being quiet about it, but the H130 is robust that way and on top of that, it offers the passengers a feeling of relaxation and one with the world below. This helicopter is not just a means of transportation; it is a whole new way of experiencing flying.
