Hélicoptères Guimbal

Company history

While working at Eurocopter on the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin and Eurocopter EC120 Colibri helicopters in the 1980s, Bruno Guimbal decided to independently pursue the development of a two-seat piston-engine helicopter, which became the Guimbal Cabri G2. This rotorcraft would incorporate a number of safety and general technology advances commonly used in larger turbine-powered rotorcraft, but typically absent in piston-engine helicopters. These technologies included Eurocopter's Fenestron shielded tail rotor and Spheriflex main rotor, as well as a composite fuselage.

In the early 1990s, Eurocopter decided to sponsor the program, as well as provide technical assistance during testing. In April 1992, the first Cabri G2-01 prototype made its maiden flight, which lasted a total of 45 minutes. In 1996, the prototype set a world record. In 2000, Bruno Guimbal left Eurocopter to found a new company, Hélicoptères Guimbal, to certify the Cabri G2 and put the type into commercial production. To this end, research and production facilities were set up at the Aix-en-Provence airport in France.

The Cabri was originally expected to be certified in 2003. In March 2005, the first production Cabri made its first flight. After a six-year development program and 300 hours of flight testing, the Cabri G2 received type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in December 2007. The granting of the EASA certification made Cabri the first two-seat piston-engine helicopter to be certified in more than 30 years. On September 19, 2008, the first production Cabri was officially delivered to French training operator iXAir at a ceremony at Aix-en-Provence airport; this rotorcraft was the first of ten.

In September 2008, it was reported that production was planned to increase to one production per month throughout 2009 and to two in 2010. A total of 28 Cabri tiltrotors were produced in 2014, and after the production ramp-up phase, 44 Cabri tiltrotors were delivered in 2015 and 56 planned for 2016. The lead time between order receipt and delivery is assumed to be less than 12 months.

Guimbal did not initially pursue sales in the North American market, instead opting to wait for demand from suitable customers and FAA approval. In February 2015. The Cabri G2 received type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), paving the way for operations in the United States. As of February 2016. Cabri had received certifications in 24 countries.

Beginning in 2003, Eurocopter and Hélicoptères Guimbal collaborated on the development of the Ork 1200, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) vertical takeoff and landing aircraft designed for military use. In June 2005. Eurocopter and Hélicoptères Guimbal formed a joint venture known as Vertivision to develop, sell and manufacture unmanned variants of the Cabri G2, including future commercial models. These UAVs reportedly use an advanced autopilot system derived from the Eurocopter EC725; alternative powerplants are also being considered. 

source; WIKIPEDIA

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A9licopt%C3%A8res_Guimbal

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