From a loan to an exhibition piece

Airbus Helicopters gifts a research helicopter to the University of Stuttgart The BK117 had its first service flight in April 1989. Since then, the brightly painted helicopter at Airbus Helicopters has served as a test vehicle for research and development. The pioneering technologies, which have been tested on it, help to make the use of helicopters faster and safer in an emergency. On February 7, Airbus Helicopters gave the research helicopter to the University of Stuttgart on a permanent basis. From 1989 to 2016, pioneering technology was tested out on the BK117 helicopter. For example, the helicopter was fitted with an outer shell made of fiber composite, which was used to carry out research into lightweight technologies. In order to be able to recognize changes to the structure, the helicopter cells only had a clear varnish on the outside for the first few years.