Video: 'Revolutionary' Helicopter Visits Manassas Airport

The Eurocopter X3 revolutionary aircraft was at Colgan Hangar Monday on its final leg of a U.S. tour, putting on a show for  spectators. 

Representatives from several embassies as well as the EADS North America office joined dignitaries, local elected officials and members of the news media, among others, at the local airport  for a glimpse of the high-speed hybrid helicopter's flight capabilities, which included "a cruise speed of 200 knots, high rates of climb and executing high-speed maneuvers that are not routine for conventional rotary-wing aircraft," according to a press release from EADS.

The experimental and one-of-a-kind aircraft, which is a cross between a turbo prop jet and a helicopter, has already demonstrated a maximum speed of 232 knots at 80 percent power and a rate of climb of 5,500 feet per minute.

"It's fast — it's really fast," said Manasas City Mayor Harry J. Parrish ll who attended the demonstration along with several other council members.

More about the X3 from EADS:

Eurocopter’s aircraft configuration for the X3 uses a pair of turboshaft engines to power a five-blade main rotor system, along with two propellers installed on short-span fixed wings. This concept is well adapted to missions requiring long transit flights and where speed is important, while retaining vertical lift and hover capabilities.