Leonardo wins innovation award for electric tail rotor

Leonardo Helicopter’s electric tail rotor project has received a national award for innovation.

Italy’s National Award for Innovation was presented to Leonardo at a ceremony held in the the Italian house of Parliament, the Chamber of Deputies, in Rome. the award was handed over in the presence of the president of the chamber, Laura Boldrini. The award recognises the best examples of innovation across industry, design, education and research.

“Technological innovation is a necessary condition for growth and a decisive factor for sustainable and lasting development,” said Alessandro Profumo, Leonardo’s CEO. “That’s why Leonardo invests annually 1.4 billion euros, 11% of its revenues, in research and development, and has a policy based on open innovation, using tools and technological skills that come from outside the company.”

The tail rotor provides reliability, safety, maintenance, operational use and fuel consumption benefits as well as significantly reducing impact on the environment. It was developed as part of the EU’s Clean Sky programme, which funds the development of electrical alternatives for aircraft system propulsion.