Helicopters are convenient in that they can liftoff and land in most virtually anywhere, but the fact remains that they can be extremely noisy. Eurocopter’s out to change that.

Eurocopter recently unveiled technology under their development that would reduce the noise produced by rotary-wing aircraft. Dubbed the Blue Edge rotor blade, the radical-shaped helicopter blades are designed to reduce the sound produced by what’s called as the blade-vortex interaction.

In addition to the shape, the Blue Edge rotor blade also fashions a new technology called Blue Pulse, which is essentially three flaps located on the edges of the rotor blade. Using motors, these flaps actuate at about 15 to 40 times per second, further reducing the noise produced by spinning rotor blades.

Eurocopter is planning to release these new technologies under its “Bluecopter” technology, which aims to create more environmentally-friendly helicopters from both a noise and an emissions point of view.

Check out the noise difference between a helicopter with and without the Blue Edge rotor blades below. Tests were simulated on a Eurocopter EC155.

Hats off to Wired / Autopia.

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