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Aviation History
1992
1992 - 0857.PDF
HELI-EXPO '92 Kamov sets turbine Ka-62 goals Kamov expects to complete its first Ka-62 twin-turbine- powered helicopter in June and "...towards the end of the year have the first flight test article ready", according to Kamov de sign bureau director-general, Sergei Mikheyev. "Preparations are now in hand to begin construction of the aircraft and we have set our selves the ambitious goal of hav ing the aircraft certificated with western authorities by mid-1995, with the goal of starting produc tion in 1996," says Mikheyev. The Ka-62 is a multi-purpose helicopter expected to be capa- Ka-62 tie-up: a model for co-operation ble of day-night visual and in strument flight rules operations. It will carry up to 16 passengers, an internal load of 2,000kg and 2,500kg externally. "Although we are making a survey of what engines our cus tomers would like to see in the helicopter, we will produce it first with Russian RD-600 en gines," says Mikheyev. Two 970kW (l,300shp) turboshafts will power the first version. Other engines being considered include the Rolls-Royce/Tur- bomeca RTM.322, (Ka-62R), the General Electric CT7-2D1 (Ka-62M) as well as possibly the LHTEC CTS800. The dynamic rotor and trans mission system is now running in an "iron bird" test rig at Krasnodar. The first fuselage, 65% of which comprises ad vanced compos ite materials, is being built for static testing. "The aircraft fuselage will be built of large sections; for exam ple, the floor is one big piece. The lower fuselage section is one large piece more than 6m long," says Mikheyev. Kamov has joined forces with Israel Aircraft Industries, which will "...assume certain responsi bilities connected with develop ment and certification and also with the sale of helicopters, mar keting, after-sales and support of the aircraft". • Kamov is also developing a new version of the Ka-32, called the K, which is equipped with a "...small, bottom-mounted cabin in which a second crew member can steer the helicopter during operations in tight and restricted areas", says Mikheyev. The aircraft is under flight test at Krasnodar and "...will be of fered for sale in the near future". Kamov has completely re worked a Ka-32 to US Federal Aviation Administration stan dards and says it is nearly complete and ready to begin flight tests. a MDH christens NOTAR 'MD900 Explorer' McDonnell Douglas Heli copter (MDH) has chris tened its MDX no-tail-rotor commercial helicopter, the MD900 Explorer. Newly elected MDH presi dent Dean Borgman says the name was selected "...because it reflects the true spirit and in tent of the helicopter". The Explorer is scheduled to make its first flight in the fourth quarter of 1992 with deliveries to first customers about a year later. Windtunnel tests of the rotor blades, rotor hub and flexbeam blade retention system are ex pected to be completed this month. Whirl-stand tests of the system have confirmed its abil ity to lift in excess of the Explorer's 2,360kg maximum gross weight. The first aircraft's two 450kW (600shp) Pratt & Whit ney Canada PW206B turbos hafts have arrived at the company's Mesa factory in Ari zona, following Transport Can ada certification. MDH has designated the Turbomeca Ar- rius 2C-powered version of the helicopter the MD901. Acceptance tests of the first Kawasaki-built transmission system were completed with the unit accepting a maximum continuous power rating of 670kW, a 5min take-off power rating of 745kW and a 2.5min one- engine out rating of 430kW. The unit also passed a 50h endurance test successfully. Other advanced systems and tech nical features of the Explorer in clude a mechanical backup en gine control system placed on the collective stick. This, devel oped by MDH, is an adjunct to the helicopter's fully aug mented digital engine control. The first-generation integrated instrument display system has completed initial development tests successfully and will be enhanced to production stan dard for inclusion in the first aircraft, says MDH. • MDH explores Explorer's technical H^H ^g capabilities 4fl Kk Bell reveals plans to replace Long- and JetRangers Bell Helicopter Textron has revealed that it is undertak ing investigations into a far- reaching development plan covering a host of potential new designs, probably entailing inter national partnerships. Company president Webb Joiner says: "We're substantially down the road on putting to gether a product development plan. We are talking with our customers over the next few weeks on what products will follow and in a way that will maintain the reliability of the current products." The focus of the plan will look at a replacement for Bell's best-selling LongRanger and Jet- Ranger light helicopters. "We want the next generation to go into the next decade with a light single/twin turbine line. The ob jective is to set our priorities with our customers," adds Joiner. Joiner also says the plan af fects larger types, such as the recently certificated 230. "With the 230, we made significant improvements from the 222. We're not stopping with that — we feel there could be a further major improvement. We are looking at stretching the aircraft and developing an improved rotor system, although this de pends on what our customers come out with." Joiner also hints at the possible development of "a new medium twin" as part of the future programme. International collaborations and tie-ups are also mentioned. "While we're going to continue making sizeable investments in the product line, we are having talks with a number of interna tional folks. The talks are not only aimed at bringing financial help but also manufacturing as sistance. I'm sure there will be teaming," he says. As expected, Bell has also revealed new details of the im proved Model 206L-4 Long- Ranger IV turbine single, which will be available from January 1993. Flight testing is under way at Bell's Texas research centre. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 1 - 7 April, 1992 9
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