Heavy combat helicopters are designed to carrypeople, weapons and its use. They have a serious booking, high speed. But for civilian purposes, they are not suitable: too large, expensive and difficult to manage and operate. Even during the Cold War, foreign manufacturers began to create light helicopters, in Russia this business went with some lag.
Development of light helicopters in Russia
Domestic companies are inferior to foreigners inlightweight helicopter creation areas. But the holding “Helicopters of Russia” does not agree with this position and is taking active steps to change. The Ka-226 military light helicopter, which was developed for India, was converted into a civilian, and the first orders for the Ka-226T were already completed. Take-off weight of such a machine is 3600 kg. Gazpromavia ordered 18 machines to patrol the gas network. They requested a separate modification of the Ka-226TG for flights in the difficult climatic conditions of the regions of the Far North. The Ka-226TG can fly in the dark and in the fog, it has an additional fuel tank, which increases the flight range without refueling.
Tomilino has a plant with a capacity of up to 20 cars peryear. Set up to release the AW139, a 6.4-ton helicopter designed to carry passengers. It is planned in the future to supply such helicopters throughout Russia and to the CIS countries.
Also, Russian Helicopters continue active cooperation with AgustaWestland, which contributes to the development of helicopter construction. Light helicopters of the world will not remain without the flag of Russia in their ranks.
Ansat
Partnership with foreign companies isWell, but I would like to have my own light Russian helicopters. One of them is “Ansat” (from Tatar is translated as “simple”). This is a light multi-purpose helicopter designed and assembled at OJSC Kazan Helicopter Plant.
Первый «Ансат» был запущен в полет еще в 1999 year Despite the name, the history of its development is not so simple. This is the first helicopter in Russia equipped with an electro-remote control system. After the release of the series, the car was delivered to the Ministry of Defense and to South Korea, it was there that an accident occurred that led to the death of the pilot. The reason recognized by the EMU. After that, the designers carried out work to improve this system, the civilian version was released with a hydromechanical control system - Ansat-1M. Police and forest services continue to use the Ansat for their needs. And for Korea, a special modification “Ansat-K” was released, that is, Korean.
The helicopter has two turboshaft engines andThe maximum take-off weight of 3.3 tons, with a dead weight of 1-1.3 tons, can carry 9 people. To simplify the design used modern technologies and materials, including composite. Despite all the difficulties, by 2018 the Ministry of Defense plans to acquire up to 40 such helicopters with an average cost of 101.4 million rubles.
However, there is not only a military, but also a passenger, transport, administrative version, for rescuers, medics and training flights. This is a full-fledged light multipurpose helicopter.
"Golden eagle"
In recent years, among the suppliers of lunghelicopters are in the lead by the American company Robinson Helicopter, but the Russian company Berkut Aero is going to move the leader with its brainchild. Due to the use of modern technologies and materials, other design solutions, a light multipurpose Berkut helicopter is 2 times cheaper than foreign analogues. The plant in Tolyatti has the capacity to produce 15 helicopters per month.
It comes in two trim levels with different147 hp engines and 150 hp, has two rotors. This solution allows to reduce the diameter of the screws and the overall length of the machine due to the absence of a tail rotor. Although coaxial helicopter easier to manage and it is more resistant to bad weather, but its center of gravity is shifted to the top and increased the height of the machine.
Flight range of the Russian "Golden Eagle"is 600, and the "Berkut VL-M" - 850 km. It takes off at a speed of 5.8-6.2 m / s. The ceiling of the flight of the car is 3000 m. The mass of the empty helicopter is below semitones (this is the easiest helicopter of Russia), and the developed speed is up to 170 km / h. It can be used both for civil and rescue purposes and for patrolling territories.
Extreme Fun helicopter
There are helicopters that seemed to create onlyfor fun. These are the lightest helicopters in the world. This is the idea that was the creators of AirScooter II. This is the easiest single-seat helicopter made of high-strength materials.
They tried to make it as simple as possible.understandable in management. He has two coaxial screws that spin in different directions and are responsible for lifting and maneuvering. Instead of the chassis or runners used two floats that allow you to make a safe landing on the water and on the ground.
Especially for AirScooter II was developedfour stroke engine. To the right of the pilot there is a fuel tank of 18.9 liters, which allows you to fly up to 2 hours 15 meters above the ground. Despite the fact that this helicopter was created for extreme sports, it is possible to use it for express mail delivery, patrolling and surveillance, and it will also be of interest to hunters.
The lightest helicopter
It is worth mentioning the Japanese GEN-H-4.This is a civilian helicopter that made its first flight back in 2000. It has the most simple design and management. In the design decisions was applied coaxial scheme of screws, which are run by four small engines. According to the creators, according to the instructions, it can be assembled independently in half an hour.
This flying kid has modest butsufficient for their size indicators. Its carrying capacity is only 86 kg, the official ceiling height is 3000 m. Although it is scary to climb it to such a height. A person weighing 79 kg will be able to fly it for about an hour at a speed of 88 km / h, then refueling will be required. The design itself weighs 70 kg - this is the easiest helicopter!
In a joke, GEN-H-4 is called "flying stool."In fact, this is a chair with wheels to which four two-stroke engines and 4-meter long blades are attached from above. All engines operate autonomously from each other, and failure of all at once is unlikely. This easiest helicopter can hold on to three, and land on two. Just in case there is a parachute in the kit.
Helicopter for the price of a car
In this age of high technology there is an idea to createflying transport, which will cost no more than a car, and training on it will be simple. So far, only two devices have approached this line. The American AirScooter costs 50 thousand dollars, and the Japanese lightest helicopter GEN-H-4 - 30 thousand dollars, and you can train a pilot in a few days.
