Hélicoptères Guimbal
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, Helicopter manufacturing |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Bruno Guimbal |
| Headquarters | Aix-en-Provence , France |
| Products | Guimbal Cabri G2, Airbus Helicopters VSR700 (UAV variant) |
Hélicoptères Guimbal is a French enterprise specializing in the manufacture of helicopters, notably producing the Guimbal Cabri G2 model.
History
During the 1980s, Bruno Guimbal, who previously worked with Eurocopter, designed the two-seat Cabri G2 powered by a piston engine. He incorporated sophisticated safety technologies commonly seen in larger turbine helicopters, including the Fenestron enclosed tail rotor, Spheriflex main rotor system, and a fuselage constructed from composite materials.
In the early 1990s, the project received sponsorship and technical support from Eurocopter. The initial prototype conducted its maiden flight in April 1992. In 2000, Guimbal established Hélicoptères Guimbal to oversee certification and commercial production of the Cabri G2, setting up operations at Aix-en-Provence Aerodrome in France.
Following six years of development and accumulating 300 flight test hours, the Cabri G2 earned its type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in December 2007. This marked it as the first twin-seat piston-engine helicopter to be certified in over three decades. The first production aircraft was delivered in September 2008 to French training company iXAir as part of an order for ten units.
Production rates increased from one helicopter per month in 2009 to two per month by 2010. By 2014, a total of 28 aircraft had been manufactured; deliveries rose to 44 units in 2015 with forecasts predicting 56 for 2016. The company aims to maintain delivery times under twelve months from order placement.
Initially, Hélicoptères Guimbal refrained from entering the North American market pending FAA approval and sufficient demand. FAA certification was achieved in February 2015, allowing operations within the United States. By early 2016, the Cabri had received certification in twenty-four countries.
Starting in 2003, Eurocopter and Hélicoptères Guimbal partnered on developing the Orka 1200 vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) intended for military applications. In June 2005, they launched a joint venture named Vertivision to create and market unmanned versions of the Cabri G2 for commercial use, equipped with advanced autopilot technology derived from the Eurocopter EC725.
The Airbus Helicopters VSR700 naval UAV, which utilizes a 155-hp Continental CD-155 engine, traces its design heritage to this collaboration and was planned to have its prototype flight in 2018 with operational introduction targeted for 2021.
Products
- Guimbal Cabri G2 – two-seat helicopter
- Airbus Helicopters VSR700 – unmanned aerial vehicle variant of the Cabri developed jointly with Airbus Helicopters