HeliRussia-2015: new Russian helicopters

Blogger Egor Lavrentiev says: “Who is in third place in the world in terms of production and export of helicopters is Russia. I mean, I went to Crocus at HeliRussia-2015 over the weekend. This is the eighth exhibition of the helicopter industry. Was it interesting?

(Total 15 photos)

Source: JJournal/egor-lavrentiev

The question is rhetorical. When 219 companies from 11 countries of the world present their products in one place, it cannot but be interesting.

In total, 16 helicopters of domestic and foreign manufacturers were presented at HeliRussia. Alas, this time at the exhibition there were no "live" copies of combat helicopters, traditionally exhibited in front of the main entrance.

Unfortunately, there were also few new items. Conventionally, the Ka-226T can be attributed to them. This is a modular helicopter. It allows the use of interchangeable modules for various purposes. For example, a vehicle from a transport version can be converted into a search and rescue one in just an hour by replacing a specialized module.

Alas, the operational future of the Ka-226T is not yet completely clear. Mass production of this machine has not yet been established. However, at HeliRussia, the helicopter received an IAC certificate in a solemn ceremony, which allows the start of deliveries and operation by public and private organizations around the world. By the way, they write that India approved the purchase of 197 helicopters manufactured by Kamov OJSC from the Russian Federation, preferring them to the Franco-German counterpart. This means that this machine has a future, and it seems bright to me.

In addition, the exhibition featured the domestic Ansat light helicopter, which is being built in Kazan. It was first presented in a medical version. Like the Ka-226T, the Ansat received an IAC certificate, which gives it access to the civilian market.

I was also interested in the Mi-8AMT (aka Mi-171). He mainly interested me in his luxurious salon. And so this helicopter also represented in absentia the newest member of the Mi-8/17 family - the Mi-171A2. At the moment, two Mi-171A2 prototypes are undergoing flight tests.

Also at HeliRussia was presented the ultralight Bottlenose Dolphin, built by the Russian company Helivale according to a coaxial scheme. This machine develops speed up to 250 km/h and weighs only 270 kg. Due to its low price and efficiency, this unit can both become a popular sports and personal helicopter, and come in handy for patrol needs. Duplicated control allows it to be used for pilot training.

I was quite surprised to see such exotic things as gyroplanes at the exhibition. It turns out that their licensed assembly is being mastered in Russia. Now this unusual class of aircraft is experiencing a rebirth as an inexpensive and easy-to-operate alternative to private ultralight aircraft and helicopters.

In addition to helicopter equipment, mock-ups and all this, helicopter avionics were also shown at the exhibition. Concern "Radioelectronic Technologies" (KRET), which is part of the state corporation "Rostec", presented at the exhibition HeliRussia-2015 a universal integrated set of on-board equipment for a promising high-speed helicopter.

A feature of this system is the increased amount of computing resources embedded in the design, due to which it can provide a computing platform for the implementation of such functions as flight control, warning of dangerous situations, on-board control, indication and signaling.

KRET General Director Nikolai Kolesov noted that the proposed complex of onboard equipment with a high degree of integration is built on the principle of open architecture and is capable of solving all the main functional tasks adapted to a helicopter.

Well, in addition to the "serious" helicopters, there were many small drones at the exhibition, and quadrocopters flew freely right in the room. It was great and interesting. Still, it's good to live in a country that has a helicopter industry. There are few such countries, and ours is one of them.