LE BOURGET, France -- GE Aviation, through its Hamble aerostructures business, working with the University of Nottingham and in partnership with Airbus Helicopters, is proud to support the development of Airbus Helicopters' Racer fast rotorcraft demonstrator unveiled at this year's Paris Air Show.

The GE - University of Nottingham consortium, in partnership with Airbus Helicopters, has been set up, under funding released by the EU as part of the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking (CS2), to develop a more efficient wing structure compatible with optimized control surfaces and systems for a rotorcraft demonstrator.

This will contribute to the achievement of greater performance improvements (in drag and weight) while increasing affordability and meeting stringent environmental constraints.

Paulo Mancilla, engineering executive for the GE Aviation aerostructures business said: "The ASTRAL (Advanced Wing Structure for Rotorcraft Additional Lift) Project looks to leverage the vast aircraft structures experience and technology developments of the GE Aviation Hamble team and the research capabilities of University of Nottingham, to develop and manufacture a new and innovative wing structure for Airbus Helicopters' Racer fast rotorcraft.  Specific focus is given to new and emerging technologies & processes to reduce manufacturing costs and improve aircraft efficiency."

The GE Aviation team is proud and committed to be working with its partners (University of Nottingham and Airbus Helicopters) to develop the concept unveiled today through to the flying demonstrator.

This collaboration and venture is made possible through the funding and support provided by the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking.

GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components, integrated digital, avionics, electrical power and mechanical systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings and is part of the world's Digital Industrial Company with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive.